“I consider everything a loss compared to . .  knowing Christ.” Philippians 3:8 NIV.

Don’t settle for what is merely acceptable; require of yourself what is admirable.

A business owner only knows how well or how poorly they are doing after considering both their profits and losses. It’s pretty simple really; everything is either a profit or a loss. It is very important to understand which is which. I think the same is true of life. Socrates, a Greek philosopher (469-399 BC), said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

The Apostle Paul examined his life, concluding, “everything [else is] a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.” Philippians 3:8 NIV.  Spiritually, he understood profit and loss. Paul evaluated his best efforts and good works, “I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with Him.” Vs. 7-9 NLT.

You have to turn loose of the stuff you don’t need. Found written in a martyred missionary’s diary, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which cannot lose.” Paul understood this important principle, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial . . not everything is constructive.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV. Don’t settle for what is merely acceptable; require of yourself what is admirable. Can you identify areas of your life that are either profitable or loss to you, or a mixture of both?

Life is about profit and loss; examination differentiates between those. Some losses are short term; others are long term. Long term losses are unaffordable. With profits, you should apply yourself where those continue to return welcome dividends for a lifetime. For me, habits and friendships come first to mind. Habits that add to your well-being are profitable; habits that don’t are neutral at best or harmful at worst. The earlier in your life that you choose and solidify beneficial habits, the better your life will be. Actually, you are the product of the habits you allow, some established in your youngest years. Some of those will serve you well; others could cost you dearly.

Whatever good habits may cost you in the short term – in the manner of commitment, discipline, time, effort, or sacrifice – is a small price to pay for what becomes an enduring investment. Personal and spiritual disciplines are not produced by whim. Deferred satisfaction is the product of hard choices requiring daily reinforcement. Critically essential habits are those that nurture spiritual growth and development such as: prayer, fasting, Bible Study, Scripture memorization, Bible meditation, Christian fellowship, giving, and serving. Read 2 Peter 2:2-9 NKJV. Those practices are profitable. “I want you to be able always to recognize the highest and the best, and to live sincere and blameless lives until the day of Jesus Christ. I want to see your lives full of true goodness, produced by the power that Jesus Christ gives you to the praise and glory of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 JBPhillips.

Friendships also have to be weighed as to their value. The more prayerfully and carefully you choose the friendships you cultivate, the richer your life can be. If you merely accumulate acquaintances as the years pass, you may find later in life that they can be an unexplainable mixture of both profit and loss. The Bible warns, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV.Conversely, good company encourages good character.

Some relationships can imperceptibly diminish the best in you, until your unnoticed loss is no longer ignorable. A person really is known by the company they keep. I was taught to choose friends whose example inspired me to be better. My dear friend, Don, reminded me that I once thanked him, “for not letting me be what I would have been without you.” That would be equally true because of my family, friends, and church we served. Nor can I imagine my life without Jesus. For Him, I want to be profitable in others’ lives as many have been in mine.

My prayer for you this day is: recognize what blesses your life; avoid what hinders.   

Devotionals 1 Corinthians 10:23, 1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Peter 2:2-9, deferred satisfaction, friends, friendships, habits, hard choices, Paul, Philippians 1:9-11, Philippians 3:8, Profit and Loss, profitable, relationships, Socrates, unexamined life

In Christ, God extends grace to all.

“Bring [Mark] . . he is profitable to me for the ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11 KJV

I love the Bible’s true-to-life examples. Mark, a cousin of Barnabas, was a young man traveling with Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey. For unexplained reasons, Mark left them to return home. Acts 13:13. His departure was not acceptable to Paul, causing a strong disagreement when Barnabas wanted again to bring his younger cousin. Acts 15:36-40 NIV.

Paul’s feelings were strong indeed, Mark being described as having “deserted them and not continued in the work.” Vs. 38. Mark needed a second chance Paul was not willing to give, feeling further investment would be unprofitable. The Bible is silent about how reconciliation happened but later from prison, Paul asked Timothy, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for He is profitable [helpful/useful] to me for the ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11 KJV.

Any of us may have felt disappointed in someone as Paul did, or felt as lost and alone as Mark might have. Do you need another chance, or is there someone who needs that from you? Paul’s writings are peppered with plentiful references to grace. I wonder if time and his growing discovery of the awesome grace God had shown him opened his heart anew to Mark and others. I love Paul’s endearing letter asking a second chance for Onesimus, Philemon’s run away slave, who met Jesus through Paul’s testimony: “Who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me . . no longer a slave but more . . a beloved brother.” Philemon 1:11/16 NKJV. I want it to be true of me that I was, “profitable for ministry.”

Second chances are not optional; they are necessities. Everyone needs them. Why? Because everyone has a flawed history. Of all the things common to us, imperfection is a certainty. Try as you will, sooner or later and usually sooner, you will make mistakes and when you do you will need a second chance, or a third or fourth. “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man.” James 3:2 NIV. Who would dare claim to be perfect?

The Bible is clear about our common history. “If we claim we have not sinned, we make [Jesus] to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives . . For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 1 John 1:10 NIV/Romans 3:23 NKJV. In Christ, God extends grace to all. To the Christ-followers in wicked Rome, Paul marveled at God’s grace: “. . being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26 NKJV. Those words necessitate careful reading and thoughtful reflection.

Maybe you think you don’t deserve grace; well, you don’t and never could. Grace is freely given, not earned or deserved. Maybe you’re afraid to ask others to forgive you; or you can’t forgive yourself; or you won’t believe God would forgive you. Nothing you have done should disqualify you from a second chance, except refusing to accept it. It’s never the perfection of the clay on the potter’s wheel that guarantees success; it’s the wisdom and determined skill of the potter’s hands. Read Jeremiah 18:1-4 NLT.

Paul wrote of sinful and shameful behavior in Corinth that would make the average person blush, “. . [who] will not inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 NKJV. There’s a reason grace is amazing! In Jesus, you are not what you were! Romans 5:1-2/Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV.

My prayer for you today is that your life is profitable to God and others.

Devotionals 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1John 1:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Acts 13:13, Acts 15:38, Barnabas, deserved, Ephesians 2:1-10, Grace, James 3:2, Jeremiah 17:1-4, John Mark, Onesimus, Paul, Philemon 1:11/16, potter, profitable, Romans 3:23-26, Romans 5:1-2, second chances, stumble

“Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles.” Hebrews 12:1 NAS.

To keep life orderly and purposeful, discernment and discrimination are important.

My thoughts and comments today are about “collectors of clutter.”

Clutter happens. Life should be simple but can become complicated; life should be rather basic but can easily become cluttered. My home office/study is a good example. Over recent years, it has become a consolidation of too much from several previous church offices. Bringing what I had accumulated but not taking time to “sort it out,” I just put stuff wherever it would fit. I promised myself, “Another day, I will sort through it all.” On that day, I would put useful things where they could be useful. But that day never came; not sure when, or if, it will.

Along the way, I never made time to clean out the clutter; I only continued to add to it. What resulted? Most everything is some place in my office but probably in the wrong place, and I really do not know what is where, so much of what I have in my office is not useful; it’s just stored clutter. At the time, I guess I thought I needed it all. I have realized the clutter is from my confusion between what I have and what I really need. Life can be like that. People become collectors of clutter. Everything and everyone in your life cannot have equal importance. To keep life orderly and purposeful, discernment and discrimination are important.

A clutter of “things” is more obvious – but maybe worse is a clutter of busyness in your schedule, or emotional baggage you carry into every relationship, or old habits you indulge, or procrastinated obedience to the will of God, or out of date opinions about others, or promises to God, yourself, and others not yet kept, or good intentions not followed through. Those are the collections of clutter you cannot afford to allow and indulge. This Biblical principle is more about the internal and less visible areas where we can indulge needless and unprofitable clutter. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23 NKJV. That’s Godly advice you will be wise to heed.

The Bible says, “Lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of faith.” Hebrews 12:1 NAS. For life to be all that God intends it to be, there are things you have to lay aside. Consider some matters God calls sin. Sin ensnares and entangles you in things with which you have no reason to get involved. I heard a pastor describe sin’s entanglements this way, “Sin will take you further than you meant to go, and sin will keep you longer than you meant to stay, and sin will cost you more than you thought you’d pay.” I find that warning no exaggeration.

And there are things that are not sins but still are unworthy of a Christ-follower. An encumbrance is not necessarily wrong, but it also may not be useful. Paul observed, “All things are lawful, but all things are not profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 NAS. Some things may appear desirable to you but might not be profitable for you or others; those are called encumbrances – stuff you carry along that only makes your progress slower and more difficult, or could even hinder the growth of another. “That those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” Titus 3:8 NIV. When in doubt, choose the profitable.

Is today a good day to clear some of the clutter? I say “Amen” to Paul’s prayer, “So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and prize and approve what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless . . [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble.”] Philippians 1:9-11 Amplified.

My prayer for you today is that you are wise enough to recognize what is of real value.

Devotionals 1 Corinthians 10:23, clutter, collectors of clutter, encumbers, ensnares, entangles, good intentions, growth, heart, Hebrews 12:1, Philippians 1:9-11, profitable, Proverbs 4:23, Titus 3:8

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV

“Treat opinions lightly; trust facts selectively, but hold truth tenaciously.”

My thoughts today are about “opinions and truth.”

You must learn to process and differentiate between opinions, facts, and truth. They are rarely all the same. Everyone holds opinions; most have some facts. You must know truth. I’ve noticed that some opinions simply cloud the facts and confuse the listener. Truth does neither. Even facts can be misused in ways that are misleading. Truth will never lead you astray, if it’s God’s truth. All others have only a varying combination of those, a mixture not always easily separated even by the individual.

Humility should teach you to treat opinions lightly, trust facts selectively, but hold truth tenaciously. I think people are often as bewildered as Pontius Pilate was as he was questioning Jesus. The Jewish leaders used facts selectively, mixed those generously with their opinions, but had no idea whatsoever of the truth about Jesus. Jesus was inconvenient to them and a threat to all they stood for. Jesus said to Pilate, “I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate responded, “What is truth?” Read John 18:35-38 NKJV. That question hangs in the air still today, waiting for your answer. Those who know the answer are a joyous example, “I rejoice greatly . . you walk in the truth that is in you. I have no greater joy that to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:3-4 NKJV.

The problem is that people are always trying to figure out who is telling the truth, because they don’t know where truth is found. It is not found in people’s opinions; truth – reliable and unchanging- is found in God and His Word. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV. If you are walking without the truth of God’s Word, you are stumbling in the dark. In every situation, do you stop and ask, “What does God’s Word say about this?” When you know God, have confidence in His character, prize His will and purpose, and count His Word supreme, truth rings true when you hear it in your spirit. Ephesians 4:14-15 NLT.

When opinions conflict – opinions of your own or others’ – or when facts contradict each other, be true to the truth. Go back to what is eternal and unchanging. A recent ABC News poll found that while churches are growing, many among congregations have an “eclectic theology,” believing in both the resurrection but allowing the possibility of reincarnation, believing God guides through prayer but also through horoscopes. Hosea, an Old Testament prophet wrote, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge . . you have ignored the Law of your God.” Hosea 4:6 NIV.

That is alarming to me, and can only be attributed to an ignorance of God’s Word and/or an arrogance of equating personal or popular opinion with the Bible. It is reported that “while devout Muslims commit themselves to memorize the Koran, the average Christian does not read the Bible once a week.” Is there a wonder then why people have not trained themselves to recognize truth?

Remember this: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV. The Bible is more than opinion or fact; it’s God’s truth!

My prayer for you today is that you will never assume truth to be only an opinion.

Devotionals 2 Timothy 3:16, 3 John 1:3-4, arrogance, Bible, eclectic theology, Ephesians 4:14-15, facts, God's Truth, Hosea 4:6, ignorance, John 18:34--35, lack of knowledge, led astray, opinions, Pontius Pilate, profitable, Psalm 119:105, rings true, truth

“You are the salt of the earth . . the light of the world.” Matthew 5:13-14 NIV

“Do you have a beneficial effect in the lives of others?”

My thoughts today are about being “beneficial.”

Most people want to make a difference. You want to believe that your life matters. A long time ago, a friend gave me this practical advice: when you begin to think that you are a bit more important than you really are (and you will), just stick your finger in a bucket of water. When you pull it out, notice how long you leave a hole. That’s very true, but anyone wants to believe that there is some place – some way, some time, and with someone – where you would “leave a hole.” No one wants to live and nobody notice.

You are not important because you think you are; you are important when God and others say you are important to them. Making a difference has everything to do with the beneficial effect that you have in and on the lives of others. Not very complicated, is it?

Salt has a beneficial effect. It is noticeable in its touch. Its purpose is to impart flavor where it’s lacking and enhance flavor where it exists. Do you do that? Do you make people and situations around you better than they would be if you were not there? Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth!” Matthew 5:13 NIV. Then be salty without apology. God forbid that you are content to be bland, to just blend in, to become a cheap copy of anyone else, or to be indistinguishable from anyone else. You were never meant to be forgettable. You are unique. You are meant to make a difference.

Light has a beneficial effect. It enlightens everything within its reach, making some things noticeable when they might not otherwise be seen, and other things more beautiful than they would otherwise appear. My wife, Gayle, likes lights of every variety – the soft glimmer of candlelight, the attention drawn by accent lights, the beauty of decorative lights, and the bright lights needed for a particular task. All are different; all have their purpose; all are beneficial.

It’s very satisfying and useful when you recognize what God made you to be, and be that to the best of your ability. “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also . . they also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Acts 17:6 NKJV/Acts 4:13 NLT. Being with Jesus makes you different in the best of ways. Don’t blend in; stand out! “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NIV.

Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, “Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is profitable to me for ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV. My thoughts are captured by the assessment of Mark – “he is profitable to me.” That’s what I want to be true of my life – profitable for ministry! I think you would like that to be said of your life as well.

My prayer for you today is this: live so others can see Jesus better.

Devotionals beneficial, light of the world, making a difference, Matthew 5:13-14, profitable, salt of the earth