Friday, May 7th, 2009

Friday, May 7th, 2009

Philippians 3:8a
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

This verse is so deep with meaning that whole volumes of books could be written on it. My meditation this morning will attempt to crystallize what the Spirit has put on my heart concerning this verse, for this passage is one of the most important passages to me in the Bible.

Here in the beginning of verse 8, Paul says indeed, or it is true for sure, that what I say is accurate and real. In case there was any doubt at all whether this is just hyperbole, or it is accurate. For Paul, these are not only the thoughts of the Spirit, but they are also his thoughts. And these are also my thoughts, even thought I do not fulfill them as I should.

Let me take up this entire world, all the things in it. All that I own, all that I am, all that I could possibly have, and lump it all together. This would include my family, my job, my cars, my house, my books, my talents and abilities, and all else that I can think of. I will then put them on a balance, and I will put the relationship with Christ Jesus on the other side of the balance. What then happens, the side of the balance with Jesus on it comes crashing to the ground, flinging all my possessions, belongings, and talents off of the scale and into the rubbish heap. Having things does not compare to having Christ.

So here it is then, the worth of having and knowing Christ as Lord far exceeds the worth of having possessions, talents, belongings, friends, family, etc. All of these things are but temporary shadows, they are all but tools to push me to Jesus Christ, and to be used to be drawn closer to Him. Thus, the willingness to lose all these earthly possessions and comforts should exist in my soul.

I cannot even come close to experiencing what Paul experienced. I have never had to lay everything on the line, I have never been faced with the choice of Jesus or death. I have never been faced with the camps, or the pillaging of my home, or the burning of all my possessions. I have never had to really give up much of anything. Yet, the reality is, that daily I am giving up everything. I am, by the Holy Spirit's help, giving up my pride, giving up my self-love, giving up my desires for the sake of the cross of Christ.

Rubbish, trash, these things are vile and disgusting, they are contemptible. This is what the things of life are to me. I don't need them, I just need Jesus Christ.

Lord, God my Father, I thank you for your word, it is truth, it is life, it is my very hope. Praise you for your grace, praise you for your love. All of this life, let me be willing and ready to give up. Let my heart lose its fondness to the love of the world, and let the things of this life grow strangely dim. Let me live like the world will end today. Let me live as if you are my all in all. Let me live as if there is nothing more important and more precious than you. Let me come to the place in my life where you are the most valuable and most precious thing. Lord Jesus, I thank you for your death upon the cross for my sake. I love you, because you are lovely. You are perfection, you are holiness, you are love, you are divine. Fill my soul with passion for you today. In Christ, amen.