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

Such beautiful words.

I can read them, recite them–hey, put them to music and I will gladly sing them.

But…can I mean them?  Because reputation, power, the praise of men–it’s pretty heady stuff.  Can I mean those words, down to the core of my being?

Can you, Beloved?

Something tells me that, in the day that we speak those words without a breath of hesitation, we will find some serious peace.

Perhaps today?

I’ll pray for you, Beloved.  You pray for me.

Happy Tuesday

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless (Philippians 3:4-6).

What does your resume look like?

Your spiritual resume, I mean.  Were you born to the right parents? Did you study at the right schools?  Go on the right mission/vacation trips?  Lift your hands at the right concerts?  Do you attend the right church, where you serve in the right departments and dress the right way and talk to the right people about the right subjects? Do you give the right amount of money to the right places and vote for the right people and march in the right causes?

Do you write a blog that features daily devotions?

Ouch

Look, I’m not saying those things aren’t good, even godly, even glorifying to the Lord.  I am saying that we’d better not count on them.  The moment we start looking at our deeds as anything other than the natural overflow of Christ in our lives, the moment we actually start to think that we did something all by ourselves that was awesome and impressive and godly…

You know the line about filthy rags, right?

So check your resume this morning, Beloved.  Because, in reality, there’s only one item that should be on it.

And you know what that is.

Happy Monday, Beloved. 

It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you (Philippians 3:1).

I almost skipped over this line, as I often skim past it when I am reading this passage. It just seems like filler, a transition to get us into the next section of the letter. Then I realized something.

This line is gold.

This line is at the very heart of wisdom.

As a teacher, I know that students need to hear something multiple times before it sinks in.  They can read it, hear it from me, discuss it with a partner, watch it in a video, and still be completely clueless on tomorrow’s quiz.  A standard teacher mantra is It never hurts ‘em to hear it again.  In this respect, you and I are no different from the twelve-year-olds in my classroom.

We need to read it again

Hear it again

See it again

Experience it again

Pray it again

before it really sinks in.  

So, as you move through your day, don’t shy away from the lessons you think you’ve already learned.  That leads to pride, and we know where that road takes us. Instead, embrace the wisdom like the friend that it is.

It never hurts us to hear it again.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!  (Philippians 3:1)

First thing

Last thing

Every thing

Rejoice in the One who has formed you out of dust and love, who has called you to be his beloved, who has set you apart and sealed you as his own.  He knows you completely, and loves you anyway. Every dark thing in this world and in your life will be overwhelmed and overcome by the power of his love and holiness.

He is King.

He is God.

He is yours

and

you are his.

Rejoice, Beloved!

Happy Wednesday

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing (Philippians 2:16).

I’m a teacher, and as I read this a couple of thoughts pop into my head.

One, this is a really long sentence.  Paul…Buddy…I know this is translated from Greek and all, but you oughta review your punctuation.

Two, I identify with this.  I mean, I’m just a middle school teacher, but like all teachers I take a measure of success or failure from my students’ performance.  I know that there are a thousand things that affect their scores over which I have zero influence.  Still, my success is tied up in theirs.  When they pass the test, so do I. When they fall short…

And Paul was so much more than their teacher.  He was the founder of their church, their mentor, their spiritual father…their apostle.

And he was watching to see that his work had not been in vain.

Beloved, who has invested in your life?  Who has run and labored on your behalf?  Remember them today.  Pray for them.  Reach out to them if you can, and let them know that you know…you know?

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life… (Philippians 2:16)

You walk out into the world today carrying the greatest treasure imaginable.  

Don’t grip it in a clenched fist, Beloved.  

Hold it loosely

and

release it

with joy.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe… (Philippians 2:15)

Like a star

But not a star

You and I are more like moons, reflecting the light of the Son. When we do our jobs right, we reflect pure light onto a dark world. When we get a little too full of ourselves, and maybe start thinking that’s our light pouring out on the world, well…

Have you ever seen an eclipse?

Shine today, Beloved.

Happy Friday

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children without fault in a crooked and depraved generation… (Philippians 2:15)

Blameless because he took the blame.

Pure because he purified you.

Faultless because he chose not to assign fault.

It’s not because of you, Beloved.

It’s for you

and through you.

You don’t have to make it happen.

Just let it happen.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Do everything without complaining or arguing… (Philippians 2:14)

Remember, Paul’s talking to the Church here.  These are believers, Christ followers, ambassadors of hope in a really sad, perverse, messed-up world.

Kinda like ours.

Beloved, look at the news.

Look out the window.

This is a time to remember what unifies us, not what pulls us apart.  Yes, there are non-negotiables of the faith–the nature of God, and of Man, and of the Word–but they are comparatively few. Most of the things that separate us are not essential to the core of life with Christ.  And while we bicker, the world is blown further and further from the Truth.

As an old pastor of mine would say, there are elephants and there are peanuts.  Deal with the elephants, and don’t worry about the peanuts.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved