Daily Reading: Philippians 3
Scripture Focus: I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Philippians 3.8)
Devotional Thought: I remember the first time I zip-lined. It was in Guatemala, and one of the zips stretched over 1/4 mile above the canyon floor 450 feet below! But, the highest one wasn't the hardest one. Can you guess the hardest one? It was the first one! It was only 52 feet long and about 25 feet above the ground. But, it was on that first one that I had to learn how to let go! I'm so glad I did! If I hadn't, I would have missed out on the best one.
There are times in life, that we are helped as much by what we let go of as by what we hold on to. We can't make any progress at all until we let go of the wrong things and take hold of the right things. Paul wrote to the Philippians that he had to let go of everything so that he could know Jesus Christ. Everything else was counted as loss to him: status, accomplishments, race, privilege, and yes - sin. Paul released all of that in order to know Christ fully. The Bible urges us to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12.1). Jesus told a story about a man who let go of everything else: Finding a field with hidden treasure, "in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matthew 13.44).
Have you found that treasure and sold everything? Have you laid aside every weight and sin that entangles? Have you counted all other things as loss, so that you might know Christ?
Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you laid aside everything else, so that you could come and rescue me from sin and separation from God. For your sake - to know you, Lord - I let go of everything else. Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 132.6-10
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. 7 “Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!”
8 Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. 10 For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
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