7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,

11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

–Philippians 3:7-14

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

From reading the Book of Ezra, we see God called Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the returning band of Israelites to a formidable task, by human estimation. A difficult journey to a decimated city brought steep challenges, despite God’s clear mandate and provision. If it were for us, how would we have decide what to tackle first when we face a monumental task like the returnee Israelites? Zerubbabel and Joshua rightly prioritized Israel’s worship. For 70 years, these exiles had been unable to worship God in the way He had ordained and the place they cherished. These wise leaders allowed spiritual priorities to dictate their practical work list, first rebuilding the crushed altar and the temple’s foundation.

We also face many duties that require our attention and labor. Jobs, parenting, marriage, and daily survival require applying ourselves to routine tasks and long-term goals. How do we decide where to apply our primary focus and efforts? Spiritual priorities can permeate and undergird seemingly mundane tasks and daily decisions. What priority is driving our work day in and day out? May God lead us through necessary work, great and small, in ways that honor Him.