Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…
Summary: When Paul compares the things of this world to knowing Christ Jesus, he makes us think about what we value in life.
Paul has just walked us through all the things he considered his “gains” in life (Philippians 3:7). What were his “gains?” They were the material things that put him ahead of others.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:8 – Just Jesus”
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Summary: Paul declares that his entire life before Jesus was a waste. Is that true? The question makes us ponder the timing of Jesus’ birth.
Have you ever worked hard on something, only to get to the end of it and realize it wasn’t really what you wanted or needed to do?
Continue reading “Philippians 3:7 – Wasted Effort”
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
This is another challenging text. Peter is starting a section of his letter that describes how to live among unbelievers. As I think about what he is teaching us, it feels like we are sitting in on a master’s class for Christian living.
In today’s passage, we are talking about neighbors or coworkers who accuse us of doing wrong. (Peter assumes we are innocent!) Has this ever happened to you? It has for me. It can be a terrifying experience. In an instant, everything you thought was solid ground can be swept away.
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:12 — Smeared”