Gaze Upon the Beauty of the Lord

I used to cringe at songs that made us sing about God or Jesus being beautiful.  “God is not beautiful” – I objected. “Beauty is something that describes women, not men!”  But here is David – a man’s man – resolved to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD!  As in so many cases, I needed Scripture to reform my thinking. These days I find encouragement in Proverbs 20:29, “…the beauty of old men is their gray hair.”

Beauty is an aesthetic quality of what we find attractive, satisfying, and excellent in an object or a person. What makes beauty are attributes like unity, balance symmetry and harmony. Biblical writers use beauty as a quality signifying the positive response of a person to nature or a person. Moving far beyond just physical attractiveness, the positive qualities of beauty provide language for identifying the perfection of God and the pleasure that a believer finds in His perfection.

David expressed the delight and satisfaction he found in God, and the longing he had to see God face to face.  To express the inexpressible – what God is like – David identifies God as the definition of beauty i.e. attractive, pleasant, satisfying, right, good, everything in place, etc. There are a few like Isaiah (Isa. 1:1-4) and John (Rev.1:13-18) who were given glimpses of God’s personal glory. We can learn from their experience to long for, seek and gaze upon the beauty of God. This calls us earnestly and passionately mine the treasures of God’s self-disclosure.  Maybe what we could strive for is to be like Moses whose face was radiant from being in the presence of God.
 

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:4

Notes From Rich

There comes that moment in the day when I learn something – albeit trivial – that I will often declare: “I won’t go to bed as stupid as I woke up this morning!”  Surprised by discovery – or at least learning something new, we love novel information. But do I value remembering what I already know? Thanks to my “flesh” there are certain things – vital things – that I am prone to forget if I do not purposefully remember them.  Our minds can slide into negative ruts.  For me this fosters images of times during my youth in Colombia where navigating roads during rainy season was often a battle to keep the tires on the high, more solid and dry ground without slipping into the muddy rut left by other vehicles – which was often the case. Then it was a matter of just hoping the vehicle would not bottom out or the tires spin without traction.

Our minds can do the same. And when my minds slips into the rut of negativity, or preoccupation with the immediate adversity, or focus on the brokenness of others – or myself, then I find myself wallowing in the rut of negative, critical, judgmental or despairing habits of thought. 

Do we have any recourse to lift our minds out of the mire of despond?

David’s remedy was the constant prayer:  “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Ps. 19:14)  Words are the outflow of our meditations – our attitudes. When I get bumped, my attitudes manifest themselves.  So unless I want to hurt others and build walls instead of bridges, unless I want to marinate in my whine, unless I want to slip farther into a sense of hopelessness – I really should rediscover anew that God’s self-disclosure is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. His words provide loving boundaries and great reward. His thoughts revive my soul, rejoice my heart, and enlighten my eyes so I can see things as they really are in God’s good and sovereign plan.

When God’s thoughts become my thoughts then I can confidently utter the words of king David: “… You make me glad with the joy of Your presence” (Ps. 21:6). This spreads – it is contagious! It is an attractive fragrance. It is the glory of Christ which points to the goodness of God. It is good for me to draw near to God – beginning with my habits of thought refreshed moment-by-moment in the constant novelty of His goodness and steadfast love.

A Word of Encouragement

David, as king of Israel, was no stranger to adversity and uncertainty. He witnessed much injustice and often cried out for God to intervene.  "Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! (Ps.17:1) Even as king there were things that were beyond his control. It is encouraging to see the confidence David had that God cared and would respond, "I will call upon you, for you will answer me, O God" (v.6)  

A significant element of David's confidence that God would hear him was the integrity of his own heart (v.3-5). He was not in pursuit of his own ambition, but God's purpose. He trusted God to follow through on His promises. David's emotions were anchored in his relation to Jehovah of Israel, "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings" (v.8). 

A second major factor that compelled David's confidence was his perspective informed by God's self-disclosure - he had a worldview from beyond the sun.  Those who perpetrated injustice were "men of the world whose portion is in this life" (v.14)  In other words, those whose view is limited to things "under the sun" are the self-preeminent bent on self preservation and self-promotion. What else is there?

David's view is refreshing, l"As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness" (v.15).  Just because I am not in control doesn't mean things are out of control. God is good. His purpose will stand. He will bring me to my highest good and my deepest satisfaction - Himself!

As with David 3,000 years ago - so it is with us today. Knowing our end liberates and empowers us to make a significant impact for God's glory while we are yet under the sun.

Let's live with that day in view.

"Why?"

The LA Times once presented the following headline:

There's little privacy in a digital world
Users of TVs, computers and smartphones leave technological fingerprints wherever they go, and companies are lapping up the data.

David Sarno of the Los Angeles Times writes: “Eric Hartman doesn't pay much attention to his iPhone. But the iPhone is paying attention to him. Buying milk at Ralphs? Playing World of Warcraft? Texting dinner plans to friends? Binge watching on Netflix? It's all recorded. Over the course of a day, hundreds of digital traces pile up, each offering more insight into the way Hartman and his family live.”

The idea of keeping track of all that you’ve done and every place you’ve been in the course of a day…a week...could be world-shattering. Think of the benefits of keeping a budget – not so much to limit spending but to record where the expenditures go. I challenged a young man once to keep track of how much he spent weekly on his Mellow Yellow “habit.” He assumed he was spending a “few bucks” when, in reality, after keeping record, he discovered it was more like $90.00!

What if you decided to do that instead of just Apple and all the merchants that compete for your loyalty? The time you have has already been numbered. You have been entrusted with it. So what if you kept record of all your activity, then upon review at the end of the day asked the question, “Why did I do this?” Follow that up with, “Why do I exist?” But to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love as Christ has loved me.

This could be revolutionary (Colossians 3:17).

So teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

The Prosperous Soul

We are much about physical well-being. How would you respond if someone greeted you saying: “I hope you’re as healthy physically as you are spiritually?”

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things
and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
III John 2

If your physical health were compared to your spiritual health, what would that say of the current state of your physical well being?

So how are you anyway – inside?

“Prosper” is a word that means to get along well, to have good success. A soul that prospers is like a fruitful branch: it draws life from its source therefore it delights in doing what it was designed to do. A branch cannot produce fruit if it’s all dried up inside.

Is your soul prospering? Are you rich toward God, drawing life from Him? Are you drawing near to Him, abiding in Him, letting His word dwell in you richly, and walking in His Spirit? Does your life reflect the infinite worth of Christ and diffuse His fragrance? That’s what you were designed for, and the Creator-Redeemer wants you to prosper in it. Here’s how:

Blessed is the man… whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper!
From Psalm 1

Thoughts on Joy

Because of his encounter with the incarnate Son of God, John was compelled to broadcast this wonderful One to us and all who would hear:

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

The apostle makes the point that joy and fellowship are inextricably linked. God is the source of joy. The God/man is the means of appropriating that joy through our relationship to Him and then with His people.

As believers each of us has been baptized into the body of Christ. The body is vital connection and interdependence with coordinated work upon command from the head (Christ). While there is a common mission for the church there is also a common divine objective for each member of the body – the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ – our joy!

Being conformed to Christ’s image is not something that is done alone. The mind of Christ and the law of Christ require investment with regard to others. Each of us plays an integral role in the spiritual growth (the joy of becoming like Christ) of the other. Our lasting joy in the Lord is proportionate to our maturity in the Lord and love/fellowship with His people.

This is why the apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers that they were fellow workers for your joy. Fellowship is what the apostle John did – the blessing he received from God he shared with those around him. What has been entrusted to you (God’s blessings) is for the express purpose of contributing to the joy of others.

You Are the Temple of the Living God

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (II Corinthians 6:16)

Grasping the profundity of being the temple of God will be aided by understanding the function of the temple in the Old Testament. As the temple was the place of… we who are in Christ are the people of… individually and corporately.

A House of Prayer. Isaiah prophesied: Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. This description of the temple reflects Solomon’s dedication of it as recorded in I Kings 8:28-30 – the place of which You said, “My name shall be there,” that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. The Gospels record Jesus chasing out the greedy money changers (“den of thieves”) from the temple after which He quoted Isaiah in calling it a house of prayer.

That temple no longer stands and those who are in Christ are the temple of God. The Spirit who dwells in the believer, Paul says, makes intercession for the saints. At times in our weakness to do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the indwelling Spirit is our helper because He knows us – He who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is.

Prayer is singular focus on and bold approach to the infinite, loving Creator/Redeemer. In the Old Testament believers prayed toward the temple in recognition of the fact that God was there. Today God resides in us by His Spirit and it is our privilege to freely approach Him with adoration, thanksgiving and requests. We no longer need to be in a particular location or bow toward a building – we can pray without ceasing because God is there drawing us into unceasing communion and fellowship with Him in spirit and in truth.

You are a house of prayer. Engage the profound privilege that is yours in Christ. Make it so that Jesus would call you His house of prayer and not something else.

Rejoice in Hope

As consumers we like guarantees. We like the certainty that something will work, or that our desire for what we’ve acquired will be affirmed. Yet in our own lives we experience failure and frustration on a daily basis. So how can we be certain of our redemption in Jesus Christ when so often we sense the inner cry: “It’s not working?”

As long as we are in these frail tents habituated in sin (“the flesh”) our hope is still that – a confident expectation. When Christ has returned and we are perfectly like Him and perpetually with Him, our hope will be a fulfilled reality. But until then we persevere in certain anticipation, rejoicing in hope.

We can be assured because we have a Guarantee. Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The third Person of the Trinity residing in us is our guarantee (II Cor. 1:2; 5:5; Eph. 1:14) – the anchor of our confidence. We can know that we have been born of God and are partakers of the divine nature, having been made the righteousness of God in Him – failures and frustrations notwithstanding. What deep and profound truths are ours to be acquainted with… truths to meditate on… truth to abide in.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly: consume the doctrines of Scripture so that the transforming power of God enters the blood stream of your habits of thought and your whole being is nourished in the riches of His grace. This is how we draw near to God; this is how we abide in Christ; this is how we walk in the Spirit. This is spirituality! It is not mechanical, it is relational. It is not something that can be quantified because it is the loving, fervent pursuit of communion with the One who made you and reconciled you to Himself.

You awakened us to delight in Your praise; for You made us for Yourself, “
and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.
(Augustine – Confessions)

Thinking About It

If you have entrusted yourself in faith to the finished redeeming work of Christ then you must know (grasp and internalize) the truth about you in Christ as revealed by God in Scripture. The most important choice you make daily is what you choose to do with your mind. This axiom is reinforced by the imperative of Romans 6:11, “…reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “Reckon” is the same word translated “impute” or “credited to” in chapter 4. In this context it carries the sense of taking inventory. What the apostle is stressing is that the believer must make this truth the object of his careful attention and study so that it becomes his habit of thought. If not, his Christian walk will inevitably become a frustration leading to drudgery in attempting to manage sin.

John 8:32 – The truth will set you free
Rom. 8:6 – To be spiritually minded is life and peace
Rom. 12:2 – Be transformed by renewing your mind
Col. 3:2 – Set your mind on things above
I Peter 1:13 – Prepare your minds for action

Chip Ingram said it well: “The Christian life flows out of a whole different way of thinking. The power of renewing the mind changes the course of a person’s life.” Far beyond mere “positive thinking,” the grace of God has put His law on the believer’s heart and His Spirit within him. This is the new creation that the believer is in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17) as one who is born of God (John 1:12-13).

Your transformation through the renewing of your mind is to prove and experience the purpose that God has for you and to function according to your new design in Christ (Eph. 2:10). This is the definition of success – not just spiritually, but in terms of life now and forever.

United with Christ in His Resurrection

If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:5)

If we (believing sinners) were united with Christ in His death, then it logically follows that we are/will be united with Him in His resurrection. If we are united with Christ in His resurrection, then we are united with Him in His life. If we are united with Him in His resurrected life, then we will be united with Him in His glory. What a glorious path is ours!

United with Christ in His resurrection we have conquered death with Him. We have overcome the separation from Life that our sinfulness deserves. Paul expressed his desire: “…that I may know…the power of His resurrection….” It is through that power alone that the enslaving grip of the sinful nature is cast off and a new nature takes root – a nature that is born of God – of incorruptible seed.

United with Christ in His life we are able to walk in newness of life. The old self-preeminent nature has been rendered powerless; the new restored image of God is now under development in the believer. We can practically realize this when we affirm in our lives the surrendered words: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That speaks of all the benefits and fruit of a branch grafted into the fruit tree. The Father has made us alive together with Christ. That is intimate, vital connection with the One who is Life (he who has the Son has life). So, when Paul says to the Colossians, you have died, it is the same as when he says to the Corinthians, “…that those who live should no longer live for themselves.”  Christ’s life is devoted to His Father. As we abide in Him, so is our life devoted to reflect His character and take an active role in His purpose.

United with Christ in His glory is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption. We were created by Him, and for Him, to be drawn into perfect fellowship and communion with Him. The glory that will be revealed in us is the revealing of the sons of God – the complete redemption of the whole person, body and soul.  It is that glory of which John speaks: “…we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” John also recorded in Christ’s high-priestly prayer: “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one.” Our glory will be our fulfillment in Christ, when we will be perfectly like Him and perpetually with Him.

Learning and Living

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (I John 1:1-3)

Children relish the thrill of piling up leaves and then hurling themselves airborne into the mountain of colorful crunchy foliage.

It’s time to rake leaves.

But (pause) with the thought of a backache and blisters – I’ll do it later. Wait, what’s this? A blower gathering dust in the garage! That changes everything – assuming I can get it running.

Imagine if I brag to my neighbor that I have a powerful leaf blower capable of accomplishing the arduous task of leaf consolidation in a fraction of the time with minimal effort compared to the twisting drudgery of dragging the rake. The neighbor, however, never sees the blower – only a yard with layers and drifts of decaying leaves that annoy him with every gust of wind. You can just hear it – “So where’s that blower you keep talking about?”

It’s one thing to say that you have a blower; it’s an entirely different story if you actually pick it up, learn it, and put it to practical use. This is how John approaches the spiritual things that we talk about. In order for there to be any vitality to our faith there must be a marriage of learning and living.

In the prologue to his first letter, the apostle begins right off the launching pad with this force: “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you” – that’s learning; “…that you may have fellowship with us… the Father and His Son Jesus Christ” – that’s living what we’ve learned.

Having fellowship is not an ethereal state of being; it is the experience of interpersonal investments that yield comfort, joy and growth – the fruit of the Spirit, the mind of Christ, and much fruit that glorifies the Father. We can learn and talk about fellowship all day long, but just talking will change exactly nothing.

Get a blower in your hands – pile up those leave and bring joy.

The Mouth of the Righteous is a Well of Life

The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11)

Imagine having to endure a week with no running water and no convenient source of water. Imagine having to even hunt for water. Common in Scripture is the imagery of a spring or a well as a source of refreshment in an arid land. Great would be the disappointment of a polluted spring or a dried up well.

We are surrounded by thirsty people and this proverb speaks of the mouth as a source of reviving drink. It is not just any mouth, however, but the mouth of the righteous. When the righteous opens his mouth, what comes out issues from a heart inclined toward God. God Himself is the “fountain of living water,” and as we drink deep from the river of His pleasures (Psalm 36:8) we become of source of refreshment to others. The mouth, more than just an organ of speech, manifests one’s character and disposition (Luke 6:45). Jesus painted a clear picture of this when He declared: Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

As the Christian speaks to another, what is described in this proverb is more than just positive air. The righteous speaks that which is morally strengthening, intellectually elevating, and inwardly reviving – words of encouragement, grace and hope because it comes from the nature of God which resides within. The antithesis: “violence covers the mouth of the wicked,” is to issue deceitful words that conceal the ambition of self-advantage – words that spew out of the polluted spring of self-preeminence. All such communication has its origin in the Father of lies.

We can glean from this proverb a clear exhortation and some profound encouragement. Judge every word you speak: does it proceed from the mind of Christ or does it betray a deep-seated selfishness? Remember this: your mouth is a powerful instrument to benefit others. Do not dam it up or let the well go dry. As you delight in the Lord, open up the floodgates and refresh your thirsty neighbor.

Be the Church

I am a child of God.

I belong to Jesus Christ through faith because of his sacrifice.

I am indwell with His Spirit to guide and empower me in obedience.

I belong to a chosen people to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth, an intentional community of grace that loves God, demonstrated by loving people in a culture of discipleship.

I will let His word dwell in me richly.

I will draw near to God.

I will abide in Christ.

I will keep in step with the Spirit,

And I will live in the outflow to exalt Jesus Christ for the glory of God.

The High Calling of Motherhood

Today we acknowledge the role of mom as valuable kingdom work. Whether you have in the past or are now being "Mom" to your child(ren), your unseen sacrifices and struggles are seen and valued by the Lord. We recognize that you, as a mom, may feel undervalued, misunderstood and overlooked by a culture that applauds outward and visible contributions to society. So much of your work as a mother is hidden away in the unseen moments of grace with your children. As you bend up to pick up the thousandth crayon, or empathetically listen to your teen's woes you receive no applause. When you respond patiently toward a tantrum throwing toddler, or graciously shepherd feuding siblings no one says, "Way to keep your cool!" You sacrifice and struggle because of love, and loving others is kingdom work.

Know that your motherhood is valued by this church. You don't need to be involved in a million ministry commitments when you have your hands full nurturing several souls. We encourage you to give the small, the ordinary, and the mundane things to God and watch him bless and multiply your efforts. Thank you for sowing the seeds of God's love in the hearts and minds of the young in our midst. As a church developing a culture of discipleship we call upon a group of older women to rise up -- women who are available and willing to take a younger mom under their wing. A mentor is not someone who has all the answers or is a spiritual giant, but a friend -- someone who is willing to listen and love. Because really, all a tired mom needs to keep going is a listening ear, a good cry, and maybe some banana bread.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Proverbs 31:26-28a (NKJV)

Walking in Step With the Spirit

We who are in Christ, God's objective for us is to transform us "into His image" - in other words - to make us like Christ in character and accomplishment of the Father's will. So we are reconciled to Him (like a broken branch reconciled to the tree) through faith based on the sacrificial, redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The purpose for reconciling us is so that we can relate to Him, walk with Him and enjoy Him - that is relationship.  So He is our means AND our end. "Of him, through Him and to Him are all things" (Rom 11:36). 

So walking with God - enjoying and loving Him - is our highest function. When that is reality in our lives it will manifest itself by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness... . Though we can enjoy the accompanying pleasureof these virtues, they are not intended just to make our lives more pleasurable, but they manifest the character of Christ through us toward others in fulfillment of the greatest two commands: 1) Love God, 2) love your neighbor.

So when we are walking in the Spirt and abiding in Christ (drawing near to God and delighting in Him as His Word richly abides in us) we will not fulfill selfish desires ("works of the flesh" - Gal. 5:19-21, cf. 1 John 3:6) but will manifest the character of Christ in the outflow of His Spirit (the "fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22-23). The list of the fruit of the Spirit is representative, not exhaustive.  The list ends with "against such there is no law."  Follow this out to its logical conclusion: if everyone was walking in the Spirit all the time, laws governing moral behavior would be unnecessary. Such will be the state of eternity for us in heaven with our Creator/Redeemer.

Found in Him

A fundamental component of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ is to be found in Him that we may acquire the excellencies of Christ.  The apostle uses the phrase “found in” also in Phil. 2:8 speaking of the second Person of the Trinity who was found in appearance as a man. The meaning is to be recognized in reality by another. Jesus did not just appear as a man, He was a man recognized by others.  So for us to be found in Him takes our faith out of the realm of a private subjective notion into the sphere in which the regenerate live.

A key description of the regenerate is the term in Christ. Barnes says that this points to our union with Christ – that we are truly and intimately connected to Him. We are in Him as a branch is in the trunk of the tree.  There is a permanent dwelling which makes the branch naturally at rest, all the while drawing resources, growing and producing.  We could say that the branch is in its element in the trunk just as a fish is in its element in water – the Christian’s element is in Christ.  With numerous exhortations to abide in Him, the Christian’s permanent address is Jesus Christ my Lord. The regenerate may be at home, at work or traveling abroad; he may be healthy, sick, abased or abounding – but he is always in Him.  Motyer colors the apostle’s statement in saying, “The Lord Jesus is a dwelling so attractive that Paul cannot bear to be away from home.”

To be found in Him, biblically, is an affirmed position, and it is the loftiest of human ambitions. When we ask, “Found by whom?” we will recognize this not as just a warm devotional thought, but as profound doctrinal truth about our essence and purpose with implications about our submission and habits.

Specific Knowledge

Paul’s statement of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ leads us to understand that there is no better option. This statement could be made with authority and confidence because of his experience. Paul’s knowledge was intellectual and rational, but it was more. His knowledge of Christ was experimental, meaning he spoke of His relationship (experience) with a person – The Person. And such knowledge was superior to any other that may compete.

I remember being attracted to a young lady in college with whom I was casually acquainted. During one summer we both traveled in a small group representing our Bible college to various churches around the country. After spending ten weeks driving 13,000 exhausting miles in a van and experiencing common stresses, pressures and joys of such an itinerary, my knowledge of this young woman was much deeper than before.  There was no question – I thought she was the best… so I asked her to be my wife.

It is of this kind of knowledge that the Psalmist invited: “O taste and see that the Lord is good!” It is a knowledge that goes beyond intelligence to the level of experience – relationship. Wuest describes Paul’s knowledge as “the knowledge he gained through the experience of intimate companionship and communion with Him.” Yet Paul never seemed complacent with his knowledge of Christ and always craved more interaction.

Now the apostle is not speaking of the surpassing worth of knowledge in general. He speaks of a very specific knowledge. There are many arenas of knowledge, but one specifically is infinitely superior to them all – the knowledge of Christ Jesus. Much is wrapped up in that name contingent upon His essence, His person, and His work from creation to redemption to regeneration. Who is Jesus Christ? He is, as Paul would affirm, the infinite, personal, loving Creator, Redeemer, Reconciler, and Intercessor. So, as Motyer explains, “the bare mention of Christ has been filled out over the years of experience of him, so that it is now the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” 

The last two words are telling. It was to this supreme Person that this well-educated, highly successful, driven man had wholly resigned himself. Much as Thomas, kneeling at the feet of the risen Jesus Christ cried out: “My Lord and my God!” it was an unequivocal recognition of and surrender to – it was absolute devotion. Nothing else mattered if it did not have something to do with Christ.  It is through this surpassing specific knowledge – of Jesus Christ my Lord – that you and I acquire the perfections of Christ.

We Have Much to Consider

How do we move forward in a culture that is increasingly devoid of a moral compass? The new morality is guided by the basic "virtue" of celebrating everyone's personal inclinations and identifications regardless of any objective standard. We are being told that deviant behaviors should be encouraged and supported. The issue is that the point from which these behaviors deviate can no longer be identified. Everyone is now the arbiter of their own morality. But is this so different than the environment in which the church was birthed? What an opportunity for the church to shine against the background of darkness. Every person must still be viewed as created in God's image and under the love of God as demonstrated in the cross. What each person needs most is reconciliation to God, transformation by His Spirit, and rescue from the bondage of sin through surrendered faith in Christ. 

Our role in this is to demonstrate the love of Christ through bold compassion without celebrating or supporting the sin. What is paramount is that our engagement with the world is with grace and truth. Our interactions should never be based on personal feelings or opinions, but on God's character and purpose communicated with the mind of Christ. What people want to know is can you be kind and respectful to someone with whom you disagree? In this area some Christians have fallen short. We need to ask ourselves if our conversations (especially social media) add fuel to the fire of the perception that Christians hate people who don't see things our way. What sacrifices are we willing to make in view of the bigger picture of building bridges with compassion in order to plant seeds of truth? What is more important: a normal day with its comforts, or investing in messy lives for the sake of the gospel? Let's reconsider the call of Christ to take our cross daily in order to follow Him.

Surpassing Worth

When would a man give up something of great value to himself? When he finds a superior replacement. Today we speak of upgrades: a devise to wear on the belt that has ten more functions than just a phone; a newer, classier automobile; or replacing veteran teammates with faster, more powerful ones. Eventually just about everything needs replacement.

In His shortest parable, Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven in terms of “upgrading” to something superior: The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (Matt. 13:44).  The cost of obtaining what is superior is letting go of what is inferior. It was with this understanding that the apostle Paul affirmed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Phil.3:8). In terms of success in his day, Saul of Tarsus was the poster boy. He had reached what every young man would dream of – prestige and position, with lion-sized passion to match. But these are the things Paul would brush aside like street litter if hanging on to them would in anyway obstruct his experience with Jesus Christ. The word he used to describe it is huperecho (to have over) which here is translated “excellent,” and in other places, “better,” surpassing,” “higher,” and “supreme.”

The excellency of the knowledge of Christ can be measured two ways; by its quality and outcome, and by contrast to what is inferior. Paul’s statement could be paraphrased: What value is there in anything absent the knowledge of Jesus Christ? At a time when Jesus outlined the cost of following Him (i.e. letting go of the inferior) many decided that was too great a cost and no longer walked with Him. When Jesus asked the twelve if they too would leave, Peter responded To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Paul echoes Peter here – there is no better option. This is superior – by far the best.