Thoughts On Phillipians 3:8 - Reid Ferguson

Walk in Wisdom - Gleanings from ScripturePhilippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish,
in order that I may gain Christ.

Here is a subtle but extremely powerful and important principle. I think it was A. W. Tozer who phrased the idea in the words: We may not each be as holy as we'd like to be, but we are
each as holy as we are willing to be. Or, we could express it yet another way - with the question often posed in marriage vows: And forsaking all others, keep yourself wholly unto him (or her)?

It is the lost element of Biblical Christianity.
Simply, if I would have God, I must forsake who or whatever it is I currently turn to for love,acceptance, happiness, peace and security - and find it only in Him. Paul did not say - Having gained Christ I now suffer the loss of all things
and count them as rubbish - that's backwards. No,he said he HAD ALREADY suffered the loss of them, had already counted them as dung, IN ORDER THAT he might gain Christ. We have to stop dating Jesus. If we want His fullness, the intimacy with Him we
crave, we have to make the commitment to forsakeevery other person, place and thing we currently look to for that fulfillment. THEN, we can have Him that way. My wife required me to stop dating other women if I wanted to enter into marriage
and the intimacies which belong to that union. So with Him. Perhaps, our experience of God is shallow and unsatisfying because we're only willing to let go the other things WHEN He at last satisfies us.
But that eliminates the need for - the risk of...faith. Perhaps the words of Martha Snell Nicholsonin a poem which became a popular Christian songabout 30 years ago can rephrase it yet again to get the point across. Pay special attention to the
last stanza.

One by one He took them from me, All the things I valued most,Until I was empty-handed;Every glittering toy was lost. And I walked earth's highways, grieving.
In my rags and poverty.Till I heard His voice inviting,"Lift your empty hands to Me!"So I held my hands toward heaven, And He filled them with a store Of His own transcendent riches,
Till they could contain no more.And at last I comprehendedWith my stupid mind and dull, That God COULD not pour His richesInto hands already full!--

Blessings: Reid

Dulcius
Ex Asperiswww.responsivereiding.com"Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish,let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them tostay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, atleast let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." -C.H. SpurgeonFor from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be theglory forever. Amen. Rom. 11:36 (ESV)

Thankfulness

Walk in Wisdom - Gleanings from Scripture

Psalm 50.14 Offer to God a sacrifice of
thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most
High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I
will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Last time, we saw 3 key things to draw out of this
short but pregnant text: God finds Thankfulness,
Faithfulness and Humble Dependence upon Him,
precious.

And we discussed the power of being
thankful. Nothing else can disarm and disgorge
bitterness from the heart than thankfulness. This is
vitally important when we consider that Heb. 12.15
tells us that bitterness fails to obtain the grace of
God, causes trouble and defiles many - spreads to
others. Bitterness grounds itself in one's sense of
being shortchanged, wronged, and that, without any
justice. Thankfulness attacks bitterness head on by
reminding us that we are God's and He is just and
can do us no wrong. SO that even when others do,
He is overruling them, and meaning good for us in
it. But why is it then referred to here as a sacrifice?
Herein lies the rub. Thankfulness is seen as a
sacrifice because it is so very expensive - at least in
fallen, human terms. For us to be thankful you see,
we have to give up very dear products of our own
hearts and mind which are both familiar and
comforting. Things like Self-pity, grudges and
unforgiveness. We hold these kinds of things very
tightly. They serve as a means to justify ourselves
and rationalize all sorts of sins against others. They
are a means to soothe our consciences artificially.
So that we can hit back, and feel right about it. We
don't want to give up the things that allow us to
focus upon ourselves and our sad condition. I mean
if I don't feel sorry for myself, who will?
Thankfulness and rejoicing in God's goodness in
the aftermath of sin robs me of doing penance,
which is so sweet to the self-justifying soul. It takes
away sympathy from others, excuses for inaction,
self-indulgence, rudeness, shortness with others
and lowered expectations all around. I'll have to
surrender anger at God over unmet desires or
unliked providences. These are very expensive and
dear to us. They will cost a lot to give up. Some of
us have a lot invested in those "stocks". Thankfulness
will force us to do so. And, it will free us from their tyranny,
while bringing joy and
gladness to the soul. -- Blessings: Reid
Dulcius Ex Asperiswww.responsivereiding.com

"Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish,let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them tostay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, atleast let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." -C.H. SpurgeonFor from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be theglory forever. Amen. Rom. 11:36 (ESV)
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