Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 3:6-9
6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when 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 9 and become one with him.
6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when 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 9 and become one with him.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
3:6 If anyone could be said to be blameless in following the law, it was Paul. But before God it was no righteousness at all, for though Paul thought he was pleasing God, in persecuting the church he had shown himself to be the “foremost” of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).
3:7–8 gain … loss. Paul’s accounting, however, has now changed completely: what formerly went into the gain column—his power, prestige, and “obedience”—now goes into the loss column. Likewise, the crucified Messiah, whom he had assumed must be a “loss,” is now seen as the ultimate “gain.” The language of loss and gain probably alludes to Jesus’ teaching (see Matt. 16:25–26).
3:7–8 gain … loss. Paul’s accounting, however, has now changed completely: what formerly went into the gain column—his power, prestige, and “obedience”—now goes into the loss column. Likewise, the crucified Messiah, whom he had assumed must be a “loss,” is now seen as the ultimate “gain.” The language of loss and gain probably alludes to Jesus’ teaching (see Matt. 16:25–26).
Study Questions:
- Brandon concluded his message on Sunday by asking two questions. First, he asked, "Do you belong to him?" Belonging to God changes everything. It changes your values, priorities, lifestyle, choices... it changes your heart. It means you are experiencing the presence of God in your normal, everyday life. And the second question was, "Are you satisfied?" Are you happy with this cursory, head-knowledge of God and what tiny minuscule things of him you’ve witnessed or experienced? Or do you want more? Are you one that thinks the universe revolves around you? Do you feel like God owes you some kind of "blessing" when you behave the right way? Or are you just after HIM and his presence in your life? Take some time and ponder these things. What is God speaking to you? What is he convicting you of? How are you going to change it?
- Read the following quote from Gerald Wilson:
"The key to experiencing God is not withdrawal from ordinary life into the extraordinary life of prayer, meditation, and fasting offered by the monastery or convent. Rather, Brother Lawrence suggested, the key was to constantly place one’s mind and heart upon God in the midst of the ordinary and so to transform one’s common duties and activities into uncommon moments of prayer and communion with God. Knowing God, then, becomes an abiding conversation with the God who is always present and awaits only our acknowledgment of that presence through heartfelt communication with him."
This is what it looks like to invite God's "super" into your "natural"... to bring your relationship with God and his presence with you everywhere you go. It really does sound amazing, and it should. Because THIS is the life that Jesus died to give us, not this watered-down, diluted game that we've turned Christianity into. What would your life look like if you put this into practice? How might you accomplish this in your life? What would need to change?
Pray:
- That you wouldn't be satisfied in your relationship with God, but would yearn to know him more.
- That you would learn to live in the presence of God in your everyday life.
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