Joy — Philippians 3 – Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Philippians 3:8a
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord.” (ESV)
This past weekend, my wife, daughter (Mia), and I traveled back home to Eastern Kentucky to visit family. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I usually try to keep a low profile in my hometown to avoid the awkward dynamic of running into people who “know” me or my family based on what they’ve seen via social media.
Against my better judgment, we ended up grabbing lunch at a local restaurant with my dad. But instead of it being me who was randomly accosted, it was Mia who was treated as a local celebrity. Within seconds, my wife and I figured out why. My dad frequents this particular restaurant and proudly shares pictures and stories of his granddaughter to anyone who’s willing to listen.
This interaction gave me the following illustration: There’s a difference between proximity and intimacy. The staff has a perceived relationship with Mia. My dad has an actual relationship with Mia. Although the crew had well-meaning intentions, here’s the reality: Just because they feel close to her doesn’t mean they actually know her.
Paul’s conversion story is another illustration of this tension (see Acts 9). Although Paul (then Saul) could see physically, he was blind spiritually. On paper, Paul had all of the “right” credentials (Philippians 3:5-6), so his religious resume is bar none. He knew all of the “right” books, and he knew all of the “right” people — except One.
This would change when Paul eventually meets the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus. Even though this encounter left him physically blind, his eyes finally began to open spiritually. And the rest is history. Which is why Paul’s clarity and conviction are abundantly clear when he writes that none of his credentials mattered in comparison to knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:7-11).
Unfortunately, not everyone has the same sentiment. Arguably, the most heartbreaking example in the Bible is the rich young man (Matthew 19:16-26). When he declines Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, it also becomes abundantly clear — he didn’t just have possessions; his possessions had him.
So what’s the takeaway? There’s a difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. There’s a difference between acknowledging Jesus as a “good teacher” and surrendering to Him as Lord. There’s a difference between treating Jesus as a self-help coach and dying to yourself for His Kingdom and His glory.
In other words, there's a difference between Jesus being an accessory to your life and Him being THE authority over your life. What are you willing to lose for the sake of knowing Him?
APPLICATION
One of the ways we can know Jesus is to learn His voice through Scripture. Commit to memorizing Philippians 3:8 this week.
PRAYER
“God, You know there are things in my life that I’m clinging to more tightly than the hand of Jesus. Reveal those to me so I can deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow Him. Amen.”