Philippians 3:7,8- But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing greatness 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.
I'll never forget kneeling at an altar in Mission Texas in the spring of 1999. A pastor friend of mine sat down on the stairs next to me, and opened his Bible. He read this passage to me, and told me that he felt like this would be a couple of verses that would guide my life.
I have come back to these verses more times than I can count over the last 15 years, and it seems like every time I do, they come to life all over again. I have spent many prayer times thinking and asking God what it means to count everything as loss for His sake, and God has always spoken to me in a very meaningful and appropriate way for where I was at in my life.
Well, I revisited this passage in my prayer time this past Sunday morning before practicing with my worship band at church, and once again God really spoke to me. I found myself saying "I just want You Jesus. I just want You Jesus."
Everything- EVERYTHING in this life is worthless save for knowing Jesus. I don't want good music, I want Jesus. I don't want to be a good husband or father or worship leader, I want Jesus! I don't want money, I want Jesus! I don't want anything but Jesus!
Jesus is enough! He knows that He is enough for us. He knows that we need nothing in this world except for Him. What an amazing Father we have that would choose to pour out His favor and blessing on, in, and through us knowing that it's not what we need!
Have I been called to be a good husband? You bet I have!
Is it my God-given responsibility to raise my kids in a way that's pleasing to Him? Absolutely!
Have I been anointed to lead worship? I believe that I have….
Do I want people to be blessed through my life and words? YES!
….but I shouldn't be chasing after those things. I should be running after Jesus! We bear good fruit by abiding in the vine (John 15:4,5). It is not for me to decide what fruit I bear, or worry about it at all. My responsibility is to abide in the vine.
I don't know what all this means yet. I know it is a shock to my system every time I start to think about it. To really reject everything except Jesus is scary, and it seems irresponsible. I have to trust that God loves my wife, my kids… everything that I love more than I do. I have to trust that the fruit that will come from counting everything a loss for His sake will be better than if I tried to figure it out on my own. After all, the best way to become like someone isn't to hear about them from another source, it is to spend a lot of time with them.
….but I shouldn't be chasing after those things. I should be running after Jesus! We bear good fruit by abiding in the vine (John 15:4,5). It is not for me to decide what fruit I bear, or worry about it at all. My responsibility is to abide in the vine.
I don't know what all this means yet. I know it is a shock to my system every time I start to think about it. To really reject everything except Jesus is scary, and it seems irresponsible. I have to trust that God loves my wife, my kids… everything that I love more than I do. I have to trust that the fruit that will come from counting everything a loss for His sake will be better than if I tried to figure it out on my own. After all, the best way to become like someone isn't to hear about them from another source, it is to spend a lot of time with them.
So…. I don't want your approval as I write these words. I want Jesus!
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