No Comparison

Regular devotions will resume next week.
This week we are sharing an excerpt from Dan Owens book, A Joy That Is Real.

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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 his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
(Philippians 3:7-11)

We compare all the time. We compare the old with the new; we compare our jobs, homes, possessions, and our families with other people. For some people, comparisons lead them to believe that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

In this passage, Paul compares a few things. After instructing the Philippians to put no confidence in the flesh, he tells them where they should put their confidence-in knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection.

Paul knew that his credentials were only good for this world. All the notoriety, all the accolades, and all his accomplishments were present gains that were nothing when compared to knowing Christ. He considered them rubbish-literally "garbage."

I have seen ministers come to Christ. It is quite a shock to most people, but I have seen pastors of all backgrounds come forward at evangelistic events and pray to accept Christ. It might be hard for some of us imagine. Some people are walking around like Paul was, trying to reach God by doing good deeds. Jesus finally came to Paul and showed him that he needed faith, because without it, nothing else matters.

G.K. Chesterton writes, "Let your religion be less of theory and more of a love affair." As a Pharisee, Paul certainly had the theory down, but he had to realize that faith was more important in bringing him to the point of salvation.

Unfortunately, humans have always wanted to make up rules for God. The Pharisees had more than six hundred rules and regulations. Keeping them supposedly would make them spiritual and bring them closer to God. As Paul looks back, he realizes that all those laws didn't do a bit of good. They were all worthless compared to knowing Jesus.

We have to ask ourselves: Would I consider everything I have as garbage compared to knowing Christ? Is he all I need?
Be blessed,

Dan

Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries