[ Today's Readings ]
But whatever gains I had,
these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ.
What have we been counting as gain besides Jesus? We often celebrate our talents and successes. We do something cool or have something done generously for us and these seem like gains. They seem like they are worth boasting about. Our lives seem good because of these supposed gains. These things aren't necessarily bad. They just can't compare with "the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." But for us they can compare. They do distract us. Paul shows us that the problem is that we don't fully realize how good it is to know Jesus. He also shows us that it is possible to know Jesus so well that all earthly splendor fades by comparison.
As we turn more and more to Jesus we experience joy in him. It might even be a taste of the joy he himself experiences when he sees us repent and turn to him.
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
If earthly things are distracting us too much we should cut them off. But more than that we should strive to know Jesus better and to see him more clearly.
Then the distractions naturally fade. Earthly goods take their proper place. Hearts that search for the LORD begin to rejoice.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
No comments:
Post a Comment