Bennett Smith Bennett Smith

It’s all meaningless…without Christ

C, C, and H,

One of my hopes and desires is that you grow up with an endless and relentless desire to be the best that you can be and tap into areas of potential that you never thought possible. Whatever your mountain top, I hope you reach it. I’ll be cheering for you the whole way.

I’ve been chasing my own mountain top experiences in this life…I’ve even summited a few already. The most obvious might be watching all three of you being born and holding you close for the first time. I’ve also found success in my work, found favor with both my bosses and also those who work under my leadership and to date I’ve been blessed to rack up a series of accomplishments I’m very proud of and that have provided well for our family. In fact, just this past week, I recognized a great accomplishment at work…another mountaintop moment.

Ecclesiastes 6

“1There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless—a sickening tragedy.

A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead. His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man. He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what’s the use?

All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough. So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?

Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

10 Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.

11 The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?

12 In the few days of our meaningless lives, who knows how our days can best be spent? Our lives are like a shadow. Who can tell what will happen on this earth after we are gone?”

C, C, and H,

One of my hopes and desires is that you grow up with an endless and relentless desire to be the best that you can be and tap into areas of potential that you never thought possible. Whatever your mountain top, I hope you reach it. I’ll be cheering for you the whole way.

I’ve been chasing my own mountain top experiences in this life…I’ve even summited a few already. The most obvious might be watching all three of you being born and holding you close for the first time. I’ve also found success in my work, found favor with both my bosses and also those who work under my leadership and to date I’ve been blessed to rack up a series of accomplishments I’m very proud of and that have provided well for our family. In fact, just this past week, I recognized a great accomplishment at work…another mountaintop moment.

BUT - be ware of the illusive mountain top…here are a few things I’ve learned that you’d be wise to discern for yourself…

  1. There’s always another mountain - I’ve yet to climb a mountain top in my life only to realize there is another one just across the way that also needs climbing. While a relentless pursuit of being better and accomplishing great things is admirable (critical in fact to living a successful and productive life) don’t forget to stop and enjoy the view of your most recent summit. This life is exhausting and full of responsibility, demands and things that must get done. When you get the WIN - celebrate it, relish in it and be grateful for it. You’ll make it to the next mountain in due time. By recognizing that there will always be more to do, we can find balance in enjoying today while being consciously aware and prepared for tomorrow’s challenge.

  2. Our greatest spiritual vulnerability is at the top of the mountain - The moments of greatest desperation and prayer in my life were never when I had just summited the mountain and felt like I had “enough”. The Bible says that it’s harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. How can that be? Well, the temptation is to allow the resources that God has blessed us with to cloud out our greatest need…intimacy and relationship with our heavenly father…the provider and supplier of all we have (James 1:17). Paul says in Philippians 4 that through Christ he learned how to find sufficiency in both plenty and little. In my experience, I’ve found it much more difficult to consistently find my meaning and worth in Christ (which is what he desires) in the moments of plenty and the mountain top summits. As you achieve and reach new heights in your life, always remember where it comes from…God. You do the work, the Lord provides as he wills. Have an open hand, be generous and be on watch. It’s often in our greatest moments of achievement that Satan is looking to take you out.

  3. Enjoy it while you have it…it all goes away in the end - The only thing that lasts in this world are things of eternal significance. So, over index there on how you spend your time and resources. Everything else will pass away (Mathew 6:19-21). The cars you drive, the homes you buy, the gadgets and trinkets you collect, the money you make…it all goes away in the end. Your cars will get old and worthless, someone else will live in your house, the gadgets and trinkets you collect will one day hold no value to others and the money you work so hard to earn will be enjoyed by someone else. Don’t be like the man in Ecclesiastes 6 who gets it all but can’t enjoy any of it. Make the most of the moment, spend the money you make on the things that matter most to you, appreciate the blessings and as much as possible, be in the moment. We only get one lifetime (and we aren’t promised tomorrow) so make the most of today. Give love freely, spend the extra time with your kids and eat slow enough to truly enjoy the flavor in that meal with your best friends.

  4. Be wildly generous - If you want to make the most of your effort and hard work, give away as much as you can. When you spend your time, your energy and your money on things that matter to and benefit others, you get to be a part of a beautiful double blessing. That is, where God has richly blessed you from what he has and now you get to bless someone else with what you’ve been given. Two things I’ve found to be true when you are radically generous….1). You never run out. It’s incredible how God has shown me his faithfulness in being a generous giver. He just somehow always provides. 2). You wind up over indexing on the “things of eternal significance” side of the balance sheet…and that’s a wonderful place to be.

In summary, go chase your dreams my beautiful children. Work hard, live with passion and go after everything that God has laid out for you. Live with no regrets, shoot the shot, take the bet, think big and find that next level that you didn’t think was possible. And as you do, remember that everything we have comes from God and his perfect favor, wisdom and sovereignty over our lives. Be on watch that as you achieve great things you continue to find your reliance and significance in Christ. Never fall into the trap that “YOU” made it happen. Enjoy every moment and be generous with what you have. These are the keys to a winning life and if you can get this right, I’m confident that you’ll find success, enjoyment, meaning and purpose in all that you do.

Love you,

Dad

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What a Joy To Lay Down My Crown

It’s the middle of a work day and as the weekend approaches I find myself with one whole hour open on my calendar…which never seems to happen these days. In this moment of limited interruptions, my mind drifted to the passage above found in Revelation 4. In it, we get a beautiful glimpse of heaven and a picture of God’s throne. Surrounding it are twenty-four other thrones, taken by twenty-four elders. While these men are nameless in Revelation, the text gives us clues that would lead me to believe they are representatives of God’s Church. Regardless of names and who they are specifically, it’s what they are doing that really matters. We read that a song, sung by “four living creatures” resounds over and over again throughout heaven proclaiming “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!” This song never ceases…it goes on day and night! And these living creatures proclaim their song, we see the twenty-four elders bowing before the throne of God, casting their crowns at His feet proclaiming “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” What an incredible sight and sound this must be resounding throughout heaven, perpetually and eternally proclaiming the greatness, goodness, faithfulness and wonderfulness our God. Beautiful.

 8) And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9) And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11) “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 4:8-11

C, C, and H,

It’s the middle of a work day and as the weekend approaches I find myself with one whole hour open on my calendar…which never seems to happen these days. In this moment of limited interruptions, my mind drifted to the passage above found in Revelation 4. In it, we get a beautiful glimpse of heaven and a picture of God’s throne. Surrounding it are twenty-four other thrones, taken by twenty-four elders. While these men are nameless in Revelation, the text gives us clues that would lead me to believe they are representatives of God’s Church. Regardless of names and who they are specifically, it’s what they are doing that really matters. We read that a song, sung by “four living creatures” resounds over and over again throughout heaven proclaiming “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come!” This song never ceases…it goes on day and night! And these living creatures proclaim their song, we see the twenty-four elders bowing before the throne of God, casting their crowns at His feet proclaiming “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” What an incredible sight and sound this must be resounding throughout heaven, perpetually and eternally proclaiming the greatness, goodness, faithfulness and wonderfulness our God. Beautiful.

As I sit here and ponder these things, I’m humbled and overwhelmed by the sovereignty and purpose of God. “…and by your will they existed and were created.” Romans 11:36 says “For from him, and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory, forever.” What a beautiful reminder that we are the farthest thing from an accident, a mistake or without a purpose. I don’t know about you, but I, more often than I’d like to admit, struggle with feelings of inadequacy and meaning. I relentlessly second guess myself, am my own worst critic and allow my negative thoughts to drown out anything even remotely positive about myself.

Oh but God! Revelation 4 reminds me that no matter what happens during our lives on earth, we have an infinitely better place to go to and that while we are here, we can be assured that our lives have great purpose, meaning and matter greatly to God. By his will you were created and exist! He chose to create you, and he designed you uniquely in this world to do uniquely wonderful things…not for yourself but for his glory. Your purpose is to bring glory to God…that’s why you are here, that’s why I am here and I don’t want us to miss that for even a second. Think about this…really think about it…it pleased God so much that he created you and put breathe in your lungs today…he decided that YOU existing today, in whatever capacity you are reading this, would bring him glory…and so you are here. All I can say, and I pray the same for you, is “Wow - thank you, God. Help me make the most of the time you’ve chosen for me.”

I mentioned a break in a typically full calendar at the beginning of this note…well that calendar is usually packed with calls and meetings as I work hard to provide for you and our family. I have big dreams of what I want to accomplish during my time here with the talents and abilities that God has given me. I don’t want to leave anything on the table as it relates to my effort and desire. I want to be a dad you can count on, I want to be an example of how to love relentlessly, I want to teach you how to be wildly generous towards others and to make an impact on those around you. I want you to see in me, however imperfect it may be, a picture of what your heavenly father is like. I want to teach you how to hear and discern God’s voice and how to relentlessly and boldy follow and obey it wherever he may lead you. I want to instill in you an unshakable sense of self-worth and to challenge you to chase your passions and desires.

If I were to somehow do all those things by the end of my time here with you, I’d consider it a life well lived and I’d go see Jesus with a big fat smile on my face and spirit full of joy.

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God’s Not Surprised

Is there anything that surprises you, God? Anything that catches you off guard? That you weren’t expecting? Does anything happen that you didn’t foresee since the beginning of time? Can anyone or anything touch me without your permission? Can something happen in my life that is outside the bounds of your control or allowance? Can circumstance or situation separate me from you? 

Is there anything that surprises you, God? Anything that catches you off guard? That you weren’t expecting? Does anything happen that you didn’t foresee since the beginning of time? Can anyone or anything touch me without your permission? Can something happen in my life that is outside the bounds of your control or allowance? Can circumstance or situation separate me from you? 

Is there anything you do not know? Some knowledge that isn’t yours? Would you do it differently if you had more insight? Are you lacking the “big picture?” Do you not know what tomorrow will bring? 


And Me - Do I have more insight than you? Am I wiser than God? Is my plan bigger and better than yours? Do I control and direct my own steps? Make my own paths? Did I create myself out of dust and design my own being? Am I the master of my soul and the crafter of my future? 

NO. 

There is nothing that surprises You. Nothing that catches you off-guard. Nothing that you didn’t see coming. Every step I take has been predestined since before time. As you knit me together in my mothers womb, you saw every life event. Every triumph and every disaster. Every high and every low. Your plan is bigger and better than my plan. Your plan is complete. Your plan has your glory at the center, not my own. Your plan is far above what my mind can conceive or my hands could achieve. You spoke the sun and moon into existence, you placed the stars strategically in the sky and gave each a name. You’ve numbered the grains of sand on the beach, the hairs on my head. You are God; and just like the sun, the moon and the stars, you have spoken a purpose over my life, strategically positioned me and named me “Loved” and “Called”. 

The truth is, you owe me nothing. You are Holy and I am not. From birth, my sin separated us and destined me apart from you for eternity. But your love….your incredible and perfect love… you spilled it out for me on a tree. You saw everything about me, my grandest mistakes, my life’s worst regrets and still you paid the price for me. You forgive me again and again and again. You have given me a new hope, a new destination, a future that I could never have attained on my own. You alone made it possible. 

So what more could I ask of you? For I have nothing of value to bring to a God who created and owns everything. What would impress you? What could catch your gaze or make you pause? What could I lay at your feet to adequately say “Thank You” for your goodness towards me? 

I’ll give back what you’ve already given me. My life. Here, take it back and make it yours. Mold it and shape it and bend it as you would. Fix all the crooks I’ve made in my own selfish and vain efforts. You grant me every breath and every day is a blessing from you. Your sovereign hand has put a beginning and end to my days. Make them count. 

I cannot see the future and I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but you do. My heart is humble, my hands ready, my ears listening and my eyes watching. Speak to me. Move around me. Show me what is next. Embolden my spirit to step into what’s next. Quiet my anxious thoughts and fill my mind with your Truths. For your ways are higher, your plan is grander, your purpose is perfect and your lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So come what may, I’m following you.

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Confidence In The Unknown; A Reflection on Psalm 27

Let me encourage you today to remember that the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the one who intimately and perfectly formed you is available to you when you humbly call on his name. He is a light to guard you through dark places and he is a stronghold to take refuge all the days of your life. This truth allows you to take bold steps forward in whatever direction he is calling you and it eliminates the need to have all the answers. To be sure, we often want all the answers before moving forward (I know I do), but the truth is that God has already been to and seen wherever He is leading you. He promises to light the path for you with each step of faith you take and to be there as a refuge in times of trouble. 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will 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. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look up on the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.  Psalm 27

Caroline, Charlotte and Hudson:

 

Let me encourage you today to remember that the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the one who intimately and perfectly formed you is available to you when you humbly call on his name. He is a light to guard you through dark places and he is a stronghold to take refuge all the days of your life. This truth allows you to take bold steps forward in whatever direction he is calling you and it eliminates the need to have all the answers. To be sure, we often want all the answers before moving forward (I know I do), but the truth is that God has already been to and seen wherever He is leading you. He promises to light the path for you with each step of faith you take and to be there as a refuge in times of trouble. 

 

Will there be times of trouble even if I’m walking perfectly in God’s will? You bet there will be. In fact, I’ve found that encountering challenges and having to be completely reliant on God is a strong indicator that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I think you’ll find that too. David says as much in Psalms 27… “When evildoers assail me…” “Though an army encamp against me….” He says this because trouble is inevitable in our broken world. It’s part of the consequences of our sin, but I love that David quickly follows those statements with “I will be confident”. This confidence comes not because of David’s greatness, but because of God’s protection, provision and favor. If you are having a hard time taking the next step today, if you’re worried about the future, do your best to remember that there’s a light waiting to illuminate the path for you and strong place to take shelter in. So go ahead, take the bold path! When trouble comes, you’ve got the only protector you’ll ever need on your side.

 

This confidence though is available to us when we are walking lockstep with God. When I think back on all the things I’ve dreamed of accomplishing, the places I wanted to find myself one day, I’ve come to realize that much of it was empty or misguided. A few examples… I’ve desperately wanted my scores to be on the top of the leaderboard in sports, my picture on the cover of business magazines and my name at the top of the organizational chart. While none of those things are inherently bad, they are wildly incomplete without something much more significant…being wholly consumed by presence of God. I love that David says of all the things that he could ask of the Lord, of all the things he could seek after it is to “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.” We often forget that our deepest meaning and fulfillment can only be found when we are in the presence of our Creator. It is easy to get distracted in a world of business using the talents and gifts he’s given us, but we should never forget that our truest center and North Star is only found in the proverbial “living room” and company of our biggest fan, Jesus Christ. What a powerful thought to remember that his presence is available to us! That we can openly inquire about our most complex and perplexing questions and to also simply gaze upon the beauty of a God who never changes. That despite our evolving circumstances and emotions, he stays consistent every day. How wonderfully beautiful and humbling it is that this is available to us.

 

As I write this, we recently got back from a family trip to the Grand Canyon. What an incredible trip it was to spend time together as a family and to look out over one of the earths most stunning views. We stood on the South Rim of the Canyon and looked over one mile down to the bottom at the rocks and paths and Colorado River below. Wow! I can’t help but think of that when I read David say “…in the day of trouble, he will lift me high upon a rock….my head shall be lifted above my enemies all around me.” What a gift it is that even when trouble and worry surround you, there can be confidence…No, there should be confidence! Not because you are strong in that moment, but because you have been set high on the firmest foundation. And what is the result of this confidence and protection? David tells us that it should result in praise and shouts of joy. I agree. What better way to give thanks for something we don’t deserve than to just humbly sing a joyful melody of gratefulness and adoration to the King. He is indeed worthy of all we have and when we call on his name, we can be sure that he will not only hear us but will indeed draw near to us.

 

God tells David to “Seek his face” and David responds that “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” If I could pass on just one thing to the three of you it would be to seek the face of God and learn to discern his voice above all else in your life. There is no greater calling, purpose or pursuit than to run after and find yourself in the presence of your God. David was on to something in Psalm 27…he knew that he could have all the company the world could offer but that something would still be missing. He also knew that everyone else could leave him behind, abandon and forget him yet in the presence of the Lord he would have all he needed. That is true for you too. Regardless of how good or bad you have it; in the presence of the Lord all things are complete. Outside His presence in your life, you’ll be constantly looking for something you will never find. Please trust me on that one…I’ve learned the hard way.

 

I’d like to close out this note to you with a blessing from the last two verses of Psalm 27. It is my prayer for you, and I believe with all my heart that as you seek the Lord first in your life you will fully experience His goodness in this world we inhabit, or as David put it “the land of the living.” So, wait for the Lord, seek him first, and move forward today and every day with bravery and courage knowing that if you are headed towards Jesus, you’re headed in the right direction.

 

I love you.

 Dad

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What I Want My Kids To Know

If you’re reading this, please know that it’s taken a long time for me to get here. For many years I’ve wanted to begin journaling and documenting for my children the most important truths and lessons I’m able to learn during however many trips around the sun God grants me. I used to believe that the greatest thing I could leave behind for my kids was a trust fund full of money, “heirlooms” that they could remember me by and a successful career that would make them proud when they talked about me. And while Proverbs 13:22 does say that “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children...” an inheritance worth inheriting should come with much more than the treasures so easily destroyed and stolen by moths and thieves (Mathew 6:19). I hope the words written here, and I trust them to be many, will be a defining piece of whatever legacy I’m blessed to leave. I’ve chosen to share those thoughts more publicly in hopes that you will find value in them as well. After all, we are all on similar journey’s and we all need to find encouragement wherever we can find it.

If you’re reading this, please know that it’s taken a long time for me to get here. For many years I’ve wanted to begin journaling and documenting for my children the most important truths and lessons I’m able to learn during however many trips around the sun God grants me. I used to believe that the greatest thing I could leave behind for my kids was a trust fund full of money, “heirlooms” that they could remember me by and a successful career that would make them proud when they talked about me. And while Proverbs 13:22 does say that “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children...” an inheritance worth inheriting should come with much more than the treasures so easily destroyed and stolen by moths and thieves (Mathew 6:19). I hope the words written here, and I trust them to be many, will be a defining piece of whatever legacy I’m blessed to leave. I’ve chosen to share those thoughts more publicly in hopes that you will find value in them as well. After all, we are all on similar journey’s and we all need to find encouragement wherever we can find it.

 As a parent, and as someone who’s made tremendous personal mistakes, I don’t believe there is a greater gift I could leave behind for my kids than helping them learn to hear and discern the voice of their Creator. In Him is found all purpose, direction, meaning and confidence. It is in Him alone that we find our path and completeness in the person we were uniquely created to be. I have tried unsuccessfully to find my own meaning and purpose in things outside of Jesus and all of them have left me incredibly disappointed. My purpose (and yours) is not found in my marriage, my career, my financial success or my influence. It is only through Jesus that my marriage is complete, my career has meaning, my financial success blesses others, and my influence reflects onto the goodness and graciousness of God.

Our time on earth is filled with countless questions, problems, and challenges. Hopefully it is also filled with many moments of joy, laughter, fun and opportunity. While these things define our own time here circling the sun, they are but a small part of God’s greater redemption story for humanity. There is no honor greater or privilege more precious than to spend our lives playing our unique role in this grander plan – and we only can do that effectively if we hear learn to hear, discern and obey God’s voice above all else in our lives.

So, all that’s to follow is for you Caroline, Charlotte and Hudson. You are loved, known, special and created uniquely for an incredible purpose, that if you allow it will bless many and lead to a life that is rich and full in all the things that truly matter (Psalm 16:11).

What Really Matters – Philippians 3

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to speak at my grandfather’s funeral. Caroline, only you had been born at the time, and I vividly remember you throwing up all over the car on the way home. That was awesome! As I was thinking about what to say about “Ampa” as we called him, Philippians 3:1-21 is what God laid on my heart. The audience at that funeral was full of family who either had no relationship with Jesus or who’s faith had drifted over the years, and I love the message Paul delivers in this chapter, originally to the church at Philippi. It has since become a defining passage of scripture for me and a great reminder about where our strength and identity lie.

In verse three, Paul confirms the identity of the church in Philippi as true believers, who worship God, reflect His glory and “place no confidence in the flesh”. Paul goes on to tout his “earthly credentials”, the things that set him above the rest from a cultural perspective. He was born to the right family, he was a religious and community leader, he was a man who followed the Jewish law to perfection and someone who clearly stood out among the crowd of “normal” people. Yet, when Paul met Jesus in Acts 3, everything shifted. He went from finding his meaning, value, worth and importance in his credentials and instead in Christ.

I’ve been just like Paul too. I’ve tried so hard over the years to find my identity and meaning in the things I could use to “credential” myself. My success in earning money, getting a promotion, buying new stuff and growing my reputation and importance have all been areas of my life that I’ve made great gains to only wind-up empty inside. Instead, like Paul I’ve learned my identity can’t be found in anything I can earn, but only through what Christ offered me through His son Jesus on the cross.

Paul says in verses 7-9, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith”.

Paul had figured it out. Nothing in life is more valuable than intimately knowing and walking with Jesus. All the things he called out as reasons to be proud of himself, he now calls rubbish when held in comparison to knowing Christ. Paul learned, like I have (and continue too after many hard lessons) that our righteousness (our standing with God) and our self-worth are not found in what we earn, but rather in what Jesus did and our faith in Him. You will be tempted, like we all are to find your identity and purpose in many other things outside of Jesus. Don’t fall for it. It’s an empty road – a path I’ve been down, and I promise, its luster fades, its temporary pleasure leads to regret, and it is not what God desires for you. If though, you have found yourself, like I did on a road that leads to nowhere, please know that you are never too far for Jesus. You can stop right now, turn around and come home.

I love what Paul says in verses 12-14 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining towards what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Our journey isn’t about attaining perfection, it’s about the everyday pursuit of Christ; He is our ultimate prize in life. What’s more is that you already belong to him, and his hand will never let you go. So, as you traverse the ups and downs of life and perhaps find yourself in a situation or path you shouldn’t be on, remember, you belong to Christ and he has already forgiven you, just like he has me. We don’t deserve it, but I’m grateful for it.

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