December 26 - Found In Him.

Philippians 3:7-9
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
 
Christmas reminds us of where our story began. Jesus came to die so that we could find life in Him.
 
To be found, something must first be lost.
 
It is easy to focus on what we have lost or maybe even never received. The devil knows our weaknesses and exploits them. He wants us to dwell on the things we do not have so that we are distracted from our purpose in Christ and knowing Him.
 
Paul had come to realize that every thing he had lost was worth the joy of knowing Christ and being found in Him.
 
Mark 8:34-37
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
 
We must daily die to our flesh and its desires in order to follow Christ. Every day we have a choice to live for ourselves or for Him. It is only when we exchange our will for His that we truly begin to live.
 
Christ gave His life so that we could find ours in Him. Be found in Him today.
 

Bible Reading:
Haggai  |  2 Peter 3  |  Psalm 149