Count It Loss
Have you ever lost something that was precious to you? A home? A Job? Jewelry? Or even suffered a severe financial setback? How do you react to this kind of loss? Does it leave you devastated?
Every year Brother Cerullo and I Meet Nationals who have seen their homes burned to the ground or discovered that everything they owned had been confiscated... often as a direct result of their stand for Christ.
Not that these valiant men and women didn't experience excruciating pain and shock over their losses; but God more than carried them through! Through Christ's strength they soon developed the same attitude Paul had when he said:
"...I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege...of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, of perceiving and recognizing Him more fully and clearly. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish...in order that I may win (gain) Christ, the Anointed One" (Philippians 3:8, AMP).
As you prepare for sleep tonight, are concerns over material possessions disturbing you? How attached are you to these things? How do you think you'd react to government persecution?
Examine your heart as you pray tonight.
God loves you and wants to answer your prayer. Say this prayer with me:
Heavenly Father, make me pure before You. Help me to recognize any over-attachment I have to material things and to cultivate the spiritual strength to count it all loss for the privilege of a deeper knowledge of You. Thank You for the assurance that no matter what is ahead, You will use it to help me gain more of Christ, Your Anointed One! In Jesus' Name, Amen.