“I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him…
“One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:4-10a,13b-14
When Paul was Saul, he had much to be proud of: heritage, pedigree, education, reputation, zealous religiosity. But once Jesus arrested his prideful ambition and changed his name, his heart and life orientation were transformed. In a new spiritual economy, where all was measured by eternal worth, what he’d assigned earthly value no longer charmed. (Acts 9:1-8,17-22)
It’s healthy to take regular checkups on what we hold dear. Passion for the Lord Jesus that was ignited in young faith can wane as earthly concerns and trinkets press in. The desperate trust we early practiced so earnestly can fade into self-confidence as needs and life situations change. Fire in the soul for testifying to God’s grace and goodness can cool to a flicker when brighter urgencies and busyness take priority. What we invest our attention, time, and resources in indicates where our treasure lies. What are we counting as real gain in our lives? (Matthew 6:20-21)
Is it our habit to appeal to the Lord on the basis of our accomplishments rather than His mercy at Calvary? Do we concern ourselves with erecting milestones, making memories, or establishing a legacy more than we value knowing Christ? Do we invest more in temporal things than eternal riches? Earthly gain holds no water to the surpassing worth of our Savior and knowing Him. What steps do we, or can we take to do so?
A grateful attitude and surrender to the Lord’s will propel us forward in cherishing Him above all else. When we look at the tangible and intangible ornaments of life in light of the cross, we see that they run through flesh fingers as elusive gain compared with the magnificent, glorious substance of Jesus.
“Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.” ~Isaac Watts (1707)
Lord, daily may I love and value You, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown, above all.
As the rain and snow 