Thursday, October 1, 2026

Scripture

“I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:8

Reflections

What is of greatest value to you?  Your friends?  Your spouse?  Your children?  Your investments?  Your family heirlooms?  Your reputation?  There are many things that we may value in this life.  But what could be more valuable than knowing Jesus Christ as Lord?

God created the heavens and the earth.  We are the crown of his creation.  We are more than a creative art project he accomplished before he moved on to something else.  We are his greatest source of joy.  We are of so much value to him that he chose to come in the form of Jesus and die for us.

The Apostle Paul was a very bright and accomplished man.  He was highly respected as a religious Pharisee.  But then Jesus appeared to him.  He came to discover the depth of God’s love for him.  He became a new man.  Everything he had valued in the past paled in comparison with knowing Jesus.  He felt so strongly about it that he used the word “rubbish”.  In the original Greek, that word was a vulgar term for excrement.  That’s how he considered everything else compared to knowing Christ Jesus!  He then willingly endured all kinds of hardship for the sake of Jesus.  Why?  Because it was worth it.

We only have one chance to live this life.  Why waste it on that which is of little value?

Prayer

Lord God, thank you that I know you as my Lord.  Keep me from wasting my life on things that are of little value.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14