February 3

Surpassing Greatness

" I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." Philippians.3:8

Paul had it all! He was circumcised on the eighth day; he was from the tribe of Benjamin, son of the beloved Rachel; both his parents were Hebrews; he was a Pharisee (Acts 26:5 says he was a Pharisee of the straightest sect); he was on fire for God, even to the point of persecuting the church; he was a legalist of legalists. His credentials were flawless to the Jew! He had much to be proud of in the Jewish world and yet once he had seen Jesus Christ, once he had experienced the power of this Savior in his life, he counted every credential he had ever possessed as worthless compared to just knowing Christ Jesus. Once Paul was loosed from the chains of legalism, he never wanted to go back. He had experienced the freedom that only comes in Christ Jesus our Lord and there was nothing like it! Like Paul, let us realize the futility of all that this life holds and throw it all to the wind that we might know Jesus Christ and him crucified! It is only when we come to the point of fully appreciating all that Jesus Christ has done for us that we will be able to see that all we possess, all we have accomplished on earth, all we have made of ourselves is worthless compared to knowing Jesus Christ and having him in our lives. When all is said and done, only what is done through Christ will last.

Father, I count all the things of this earth as nothing compared with knowing Your Son. Help me to live in such a way that my priorities are consistent with this belief. Keep me humble and submissive that I might be used in Your service. Thank You for the opportunity to be Your child; I know that without You my life would be worthless and empty. I praise You for what You have done in my life and may it be to Your glory and honor always. Amen