Read: Philippians 3:4-11

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (v. 8 NIV)

We conclude our reflections on the possibilities of knowing Christ by returning to Paul’s passionate words in Philippians 3. Knowing Christ was more important than anything in his life. His words reminded me of a little book by Joe Stowell, titled Simply Jesus and You.

Stowell points out that many of us have a mixture of Jesus and something else in our lives. Yes, we believe in Jesus, but we also believe that we need money or friends or a marriage partner or a good self-image.

Of course there is nothing wrong with all of those “ands.” But, adds Stowell, the result is that “we end up living in hot pursuit of everything but Him.” We live for everything else, and we “lapse into an orbit around Him.” Orbiting Jesus isn’t a bad thing. It’s better than flying off into outer space and the far country. “We keep him in view. . . . We’re still in his universe, still within reach of His light and love. But,” says Stowell, “an orbit means that you keep a certain distance. A protective distance” (pp. 9, 11).

Are you parked in orbit around Jesus, the same distance as you were five or ten years ago? There’s more to life than you can imagine, if you know Christ. Consider the possibilities and commit to paying the price of knowing Christ better.

Prayer:

“The dearest idol I have known, / whate’er that idol be, / help me to tear it from its throne / and worship only thee” (Cowper). Amen.

https://woh.org/