Scripture

Yes, everything else is worthless compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.

Observation

Whatever happens, Paul urges, we should rejoice in the Lord. We should also watch out for the people who seek to do evil by leading us away from the gospel. We don’t rely on works done in the flesh such as circumcision. We rely on Christ alone.

Paul was the true Hebrew, circumcised in accordance with the law. He was zealous for the Jewish faith, even persecuting the church. But now, all of these things which he once thought were valuable, are garbage. The only thing that is of value is relationship with Christ.

We are made righteous through Christ. Paul wants to know Him more and to experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead, and even His suffering.

Application

Everything is garbage when compared to the value of knowing Jesus.

Why do we get distracted so easily? We want things that we think will make our life more meaningful or pleasant – the right job, the new car or house. Right now, people are worried about international borders closing again because of Covid. Really? is getting overseas for a holiday the most important thing right now?

When we look at Jesus, all of these other things seem trivial. The only thing, the one thing, is to know Jesus more, to become one with Him in every way.

How do we do that? We read the Bible slowly, meditating on the Word of God. We pray, and we listen to the Holy Spirit. We seek to love and to serve others.

As we follow these practices and keep our attention directed to Jesus, then we become more like Him. Better still, we enter into deeper fellowship with Him, becoming one with Him.

Prayer

lord Jesus, please help me to come to that place where you are my one thing, my everything. Amen.