Discovery Journal

Sheila W. - June 13, 2010

Scripture:

Philippians 3:7-9 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.

From The Message translation:

Phillipians 3:7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with the trash - along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. 8 Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ 9 and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ - God's righteousness.

Observation:

A list of rules...so many people think that's what church and Christianity is all about. If they only realized the futility of all of that--no matter what we DO, we can't earn righteousness, not even close! And even if we COULD, then why in the world did Christ have to come and go through everything He went through? Because I've heard the arguments so many times in my life, I start thinking that everyone KNOWS that you can win holiness by doing a list of rules, but then I get hit with that same lie, even two times in the last couple of weeks: "you have to do this and this to be a good Christian and I don't know if I'm ready for that." Then I realize everyone DOESN'T know, not by a long shot, and I WANT them to know: "Jesus died for our sins and His holiness is ENOUGH for us!"

Application:

I need to tell the world the Good News of Jesus Christ. A lot of people do know something about Him, but miss the essence of the message: Jesus loves you just the way you are and wants you believe in Him and accept His gift of grace. I'm reading a book that says we are the grace-extenders...we can and HAVE TO extend God's grace to pre-believers, let them know that God loves them and that Christianity is about relationship, not rules and regulations.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank You, thank You for being enough! May I never take Your sacrifice lightly or make it ineffective for me and others I influence. What You did through Your Son satisfies every issue in our lives. Help me to share that with others. Help me to give hope and grace to those who are lost. In Jesus' precious Name, Amen.