In Philippians 3:7-11 Paul states:
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
We are going through Philippians as a church and are getting into chapter 3 this week. As I read Paul's feelings, I am convicted.
Paul longed to know Christ. Paul considered everything else as loss in comparison. He called them rubbish or a more literal translation: dung, manure, or excrement
Paul also stated that righteousness only comes through faith in Christ. No other way. This is not a popular opinion today. People want you to believe that one can be accepted by God through many different means.
How have you been lately? Do you long to know Christ? Is everything else rubbish in comparison?
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2 comments:
Oh that we would all live our lives truly reflective of the fact that all but Jesus is rubbish.
Great stuff.
I'm reading a book now called 'Don't Waste Your Life' by John Piper. The book was off to a slow start, but the chapters I read tonight were very convicting. He talks about how we should live as if everything we do is for Christ.
I guess this isn't a new concept to me. I knew all along that I'm supposed to be living for Christ, but I keep getting caught up in the 'I'm a good person and I have good kids and we are a close family and we do family stuff together and my kids are getting to know Christ because of me..' attitude. But, what He really wants is me to be a light for Him wherever I go and whatever I do. At work, at the store, at the soccer field, at the homeless shelter - everywhere.
I'm convicted tonight to start working and living like everything I do is for Christ and everything I do for myself is rubbish.
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