26 lines
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26 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">April 14</div></div>
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<h2>The Excelling Value of Knowing Christ</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>But what things were <b>gain</b> to me, these I have <b>counted loss</b> for <b>Christ</b>. Yet indeed I also <b>count all</b> things <b>loss</b> for the <b>excellence</b> of the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Christ Jesus</b> my Lord, for whom I have suffered the <b>loss</b> of <b>all</b> things, and <b>count</b> them as <b>rubbish</b>, that I may <b>gain Christ</b>…that I may <b>know Him</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl',3,8,10);">Philippians 3:8, 10</a>)</div>
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<p>We can easily underestimate the <b>great value</b> of <b>getting to know</b> the <b>Lord Jesus Christ</b>. Other matters from the world, or even within the church world, can gain our interest and allegiance. Paul saw clearly the <b>precious treasure</b> of <b>knowing Christ</b>.</p>
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<p>Paul had advanced greatly in the religious culture of Israel. He was <i>"a Hebrew of the Hebrews"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Phl',3,5);">Philippians 3:5</a>). He was a prominent Pharisee, a leader among the nation of Israel. Nevertheless, he forsook all of that cultural and religious advantage in order to follow Christ. <i>"But what things were <b>gain</b> to me, these I have <b>counted loss</b> for <b>Christ</b>."</i> He considered <b>knowing</b> the <b>Lord Jesus</b> as <b>far greater</b> than his privileged personal position.</p>
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<p>Furthermore, Paul <b>continued</b> to consider other matters as loss, when compared to the <b>supreme value</b> of knowing his Lord better. <i>"Yet indeed I also <b>count</b> all things <b>loss</b> for the <b>excellence</b> of the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Christ Jesus</b> my Lord."</i> Now that Paul had a relationship with the Lord, he considered any thing that would interfere with or diminish that relationship as being a losing situation. Sometimes, we are tempted to engage in matters that seem to bring some blessing or advantage. Yet, when we see the impact it might have on our relationship with the Lord, the apparent gain is actually a loss.</p>
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<p>Paul knew Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. Still, he was aware that <b>more</b> of the blessings of Christ were <b>yet</b> to be <b>experienced</b>, if his relationship were to develop into more depth and intimacy: <i>"that I may <b>gain Christ</b>."</i> Thus, he repeats his two-fold renouncing of anything that might interfere with this desire. First, a look at the <b>past</b>: <i>"I <b>have suffered</b> the <b>loss</b> of <b>all</b> things."</i> Then, a confession of the <b>present</b>: <i>"and <b>count</b> them as <b>rubbish</b>, that I may <b>gain Christ</b>."</i> This term (<i>"<b>rubbish</b>"</i>) refers to garbage, to waste, to dung.</p>
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<p>These convictions left Paul with one great goal in his life: <i>"that I may <b>know Him</b>."</i> Paul realized that this goal was <b>the excelling value</b> in all of the universe: <i>"<b>the excellence</b> of the <b>knowledge</b> of <b>Christ Jesus</b> my Lord."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, knowing You is the most precious treasure of my life. Yet, I admit that I do allow other matters to interfere with our relationship at times. Lord, help me to view as rubbish anything that would keep me from growing in this wonderful acquaintanceship with You, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0413.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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