PHILIPPIANS 3:7-15 – 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 and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But 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. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”
THEME OF THE DAY: ONE PASSION, ONE PURSUIT. Today’s scripture reveals the life, affections, passion, and pursuit of the Apostle Paul like few others. Take time and imagine sitting with him and we ask, “Paul, tell me about your life, what motivates you, what are your goals, what makes you get out of bed in the morning with energy and zeal, and what would you want to be your legacy when you die?” I think he would smile and say, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Paul’s life, all of it was about Christ. Like the saintly woman in the following story.
She was old, dying, and knew it. Her life had been one of faithfulness to the Lord Jesus. Her testimony for Him was consistent and glowing. No doubt, her legacy would be “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). During her life she memorized a ton of scripture. She was a walking Bible. Her favorite verse came from the Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy – For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day (2 Timothy 1:12). As each day came, she would quote this verse for all to hear. Soon, her memory began to fade. The whole verse escaped her. All she could recite from memory was . . . “Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.” Then more would slip from her memory. Now it was . . . “I know whom I have believed and persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.” As the Lord allowed her to linger in the valley of the shadow of death, her memory of this verse was reduced down to one word . . . “Him.” All she could whisper was “Him” and she repeatedly kept doing so and her last word upon her departure from this life was “Him” (being the Lord Jesus). I think the Apostle Paul would have shouted approval with a loud voice and glad heart. And really, the dear saint lived with one passion, one pursuit – Him. She died with her one passion, one pursuit – Him on her lips and in her heart. In her life and death she captured the whole of the Christian life. Do we? Let’s ensure we do!
PRAYER: “Lord, may I know You as much as a redeemed sinner may this side of heaven.”
QUOTE: “Make knowing Christ life’s greatest passion and pursuit and we just discovered the Christian life.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim