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Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
New International Version (NIV)
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Someday the Coronavirus pandemic will change for the good. When it does, what do you hope is true of us? I know it is hard to set goals right now. But this season affords us another opportunity to ask, “What is really good? What is the highest good? What do I want more than anything?” How would we as disciples of Jesus answer those questions?
In his previous life, B. C., before Christ graciously illuminated his world and interrupted him on the road to Damascus, Paul’s goal had been to become great in the Hebrew religion. He studied under the finest scholar Gamaliel and he accumulated weighty credentials. Here Paul enumerates some of his achievements in Judaism: he had the right pedigree as a Hebrew of the Hebrews, tribe of Benjamin; not only did his parents keep the law meticulously at his birth, but he chose to be a Pharisee, persecuting the church, faultless in legalistic righteousness (3:4-6). But when Christ changed his life, he surrendered all of these goals for one preeminent goal which superseded them all: to know Christ. Knowing Christ is the “surpassing worth” for Paul. He esteemed it higher than his Hebrew heritage and his Roman rights (3:20 our citizenship is in heaven).
Take a moment today and write down your greatest achievements. What gives you your sense of worth? Even on your worst day, you say, “Well at least . . .” and fill in the blank. What are we staking our lives on? Is it our nationality, our wealth, our educational accomplishments, our family achievements, our athletic prowess, our vocational success, or our religious record? Paul says, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Even as he wrote, Paul had not yet arrived. “I want to know Christ.”
How do we grow to know Christ? The knowledge Paul seeks he finds in the power of resurrection and the participation in Christ’s suffering. What if the seed of salvation in our souls still grows best in the soil of suffering? Could this difficult time be our very best chance to grow in the knowledge of Christ? It is one thing to know about Christ... but even better to know him. We have not yet arrived. Make it your goal to know him better at the end of this day than you do now. Repeat tomorrow. Someday, the spiritual malaise in our world will change for good. Maybe today!
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Pray with me:
Father, we thank you for the goodness of your grace lavished lovingly on us today. You could give us anything you wanted to. Today we ask for just one thing: we want to know Christ. Let this be our highest goal we pray. Grant our petition in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 6:12-13
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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