“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
It rained last night. Actually it stormed for awhile and then it was gone. When the morning came and we were sitting out on the front porch listening to the quiet of the morning we noticed the last of the raindrops holding on to the leaves and branches.
It tells you how slow things are where we are staying that we had the time to watch raindrops fall, but what a wonderful event to witness!
Our lives can be just like those raindrops in that we have the opportunity once we are willing to turn loose. Whatever it is in life that we are clinging to and clutching with an almost death grip … we must learn to release it and do with our lives just like the raindrop does for the soil it falls onto. Over simplification … I don’t think so.
The apostle Paul was describing the benefits he now enjoyed by turning loose of the former things that were hindering him from the actual process of serving and pleasing His heavenly Father.
Each one of us has our own load to carry … our own burdens to bear … our own responsibilities and obligations that no one else can relieve us of. Our Lord doesn’t promise to remove the challenges of life but He does promise to help us deal with them!
It may be you are serving in the role of caregiver to a loved one or facing financial difficulties … or it may the challenges of poor health. Perhaps you are suffering the pain of a wayward child or the heartache of loss of a loved one’s life. May we just be reminded of the truth that it would all be much better if we could turn loose of what we cannot control … and learn to put our heart’s trust in the Lord!
- The promise of rest over being heavy laden is a much better choice don’t you think?
- Following the Lord’s way is a much better choice than leaning on our own understanding don’t you think?
- Obeying His word is a much better choice than asserting our own will don’t you think?
- Standing on His truths rather than living on presumptions is a better choice don’t you think?
- Knowing His “peace that passes all understanding” is a better choice than contending with anxious and unsettling thoughts don’t you think?
The list could go on but there is enough right here to help each of us to turn loose of what the world offers, promises and delivers … and look to our Creator who provides for us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3)
“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.” (Psalm 73:25)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
P.S. How are you doing on your daily Bible reading?
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