Devotion 10.1.26

Philippians 3

"...If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:...8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul's earthly knowledge and actions as a man of faith are rubbish now that he knows Christ, and he clings to that confession.

In reading the men's study bible, it is interesting to read the devotion it contains on this passage. What is your greatest accomplishment in life? Your children many will say, or a landmark event in your community, like the construction of a school that bears your family name or of a church that you gave substantially to in time, money, and effort (Sunday school teacher of the year at least five years back in the day?).

Paul is telling us of his service to God under this mindset of what we do and how we do it earns us merit in the eyes of God. His confession contains urgency, passion, and a sober-minded assessment. In his previous life, he pursued all the wrong things. "If you thought you were great, you cannot out-do me," he asserts, BUT he now realizes all that was rubbish.

Paul now passionately and without compromise shares the good news of Christ that saved a wretch like himself in a sense of urgency. He wants to spend every day of his remaining life sharing the good news of Christ so people don''t die making that same mistake he was making...until Christ stopped him and saved him.

Does the church have this same urgency today?

Pray we never lose the zeal that saved us from a lifetime of service to the wrong god or gods, and pray that we always remember the grace that saves us. Pray we share that grace and mercy with our neighbor in all we do. What we say and do matters as a testimony to who we are, a forgiven child of God. Pray that we give this testimony of Christ at work in us daily. Amen

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.