Reprioritize

Scripture: Philippians 3 

I have been studying Philippians and I think Paul does a really good job of reminding us how we should act while we go through trials. Phil 3:1 starts out by saying "whatever happens to rejoice in the Lord", anyone can go through trials and complain but it's a whole different story when you go through trials and have joy. People notice something is different and question how you have joy.  

During this time of social distancing, we have been given an opportunity to evaluate what's our source of joy and reprioritize what is truly important and valuable in our lives. That thought came to me as I read Phil 3:8 "everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage..." Knowing Christ is the most important thing everything is garbage, the word for garbage is actually a profanity in the Greek! Paul did this on purpose, he was extremely smart. He was the guy with all the fancy degrees yet he purposefully uses this strong terminology to say all this worthless because the other side is knowing Christ. How many of us can say everything else in our life is garbage compared to knowing Christ? I think during this time it is a blessing that we get to reprioritize what is truly important.  

But it doesn't just stop at the fact that we get to know Christ, that we get to have this head knowledge and be saved. If you go a few verses further Phil 3:10 says "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead..." When we know Christ and put our focus on who He is, we experience Him. That gives us that strength to live like verse 1 says "whatever happens I rejoice in the Lord" because he goes on to say in verse 10 "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.  I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death" This just speaks to the importance of knowing Him and experiencing Him so that when we do suffer that Christ is exalted and known to the World.  

Will you take this time to reprioritize where your source of joy is coming from and get to know God more? 

Prayer: Jesus will you show me how I can get to know you more. Remind me to spend time with you. Show me new ways that I can know more about who you are. Thank you for wanting to know me and allowing me to experience you. 

Song: Life Point Worship- Closer

-Kristolyn