Everything's Possible - Day 18

Philippians 3:4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

Paul had just made the point that he didn’t have any hope in human effort, but then he did something interesting: He bragged about himself just a bit. Paul does this in other places as well (2 Corinthians 12), but he always does this under duress. Paul does not actually want to brag, but he does this in order to make a salient point: if anyone is going to trust in what they have done or in their pedigree, it should be him. However, he always makes that point to show that there is no trust in the flesh at all.

Here is the breakdown of his pedigree. Like every Jewish male child, he was circumcised on the 8th day. He is a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. He calls himself a “real Hebrew” if ever there was one!
 
When I was in Australia, a friend of mine found out that he came from a First Nations bloodline. I asked him what percentage of his make-up was Aboriginal. He looked at me strangely, like I had offended him. When it was clear I meant no offense, he told me that in Australia, any Aboriginal blood made you Aboriginal. This was news to me, and I have thought often about it.

Why do we ask “how much” of something are you? Bloodlines have always meant something to people. Whose people you come from has always mattered to tribes and to peoples. Of course, we chase royalty through bloodlines, and while that doesn’t matter as much today as it used to, who you come from matters still. Paul is making the case that he comes from a good background, and a good Hebrew background.
 
Then, he reminds us that he was a Pharisee and, therefore, was not simply born into something great but had proven he had strict obedience to the law that superseded any right by birth he might have had. Then, he reminds us that even for a Pharisee, he was zealous and had persecuted the church in its early years.

Paul reminded everyone that if anyone were going to put faith in man's achievements, it would be him. However, he would not recommend this in any way, shape, or form.

1. Have you ever found yourself bragging about your accomplishments? 
2. How did it make you and everyone around you feel? 
3. Do you think this was an effective strategy for Paul to use to make his point?