June 13, 2019: SOAP #3479:  1Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  8 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 9 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.

Observation:   NIV: surpassing greatness; KJV/YLB: the excellency; Message: high privilege; RSV: surpassing worth; Wyeth: priceless privilege.

The “surpassing greatness” of knowing Christ makes it well worth the loss of all other things.  It is the height of foolishness to allow the pursuit of something else in life to hinder one from the pursuit of knowing Christ.

This knowledge may start with reading words on a page, but it is so much more.  It is the knowledge that comes from experience.  It is meeting Jesus in real life.  It is walking though the days with him.  It is learning his ways.  It is knowing what he thinks about certain things without needing to look them up in the Bible.  It is feeling the joy he feels when seeing something that he likes.  It is feeling the sadness he feels when sin destroys his creation.  It is in knowing how to make him feel comfortable in one’s life.  It is in quickly recognizing attitudes that would cause him concern.  It is when the joy of the Lord (his joy) becomes my strength.

Application:   The joy of the Lord is my strength.  It gives me strength when I know I am giving him joy.  There is a great satisfaction when I know I am making him smile.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, In a world so full of things that cause My Heavenly Father concern, help make my life a place for his enjoyment.  May the attitudes of my heart and the words of my mouth cause him to smile.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!