~Philippians 3:1-11~

Filthy rags. Believe it or not, that’s exactly what most people wear every day. And the sad part about it is most of these people don’t even know it. In fact, the great majority actually like what they see when they look in the mirror.

Take Paul, for example. For a long time Paul was proud of the clothes he was wearing: "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Phil. 3:5-6, NKJV). When it came to fleshly accolades and accomplishments, Paul was second to none. Paul could have entered any "Mr. Jew" competition and won hands down.

But one day, to everyone’s surprise, Paul gave up these fleshly advantages: "but what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ" (Phil. 3:7). Paul finally saw these clothes (that at one time looked so good to him) for what they were—filthy rags. So he took them off and put on something better—Christ: "yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8).

Paul changed his clothes because he realized that true righteousness comes from God through faith in Christ: "not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Phil. 3:9).

Like Paul, you are either wearing the dingy rags of your own righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) or the white robe of Christ’s righteousness (Romans 4:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

It’s your choice. You don’t have to dress like a spiritual rag muffin. You can take off those filthy rags and put on the clean clothes that Christ has ready for you.

And in case you are wondering what to do with those dirty clothes…don’t throw them in the wash. Throw them in the trash where they belong. ~Daniel Hope