Unashamed Reading Plan
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 7 | Day 5
Prayer
As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Thank Jesus that he came to save you!
Bible Reading: Philippians 3:4-11
Read these verses three times slowly.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal,persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to knowChrist—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Reflection & Questions
By Heather Lee
“It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.”
In Philippians 3:4-11, Paul shows us that despite his impressive achievements, nothing compares to knowing Jesus. All of Paul’s accomplishments are worth nothing compared to the value of a personal, loving relationship with Jesus.
Knowing Jesus is more than just learning facts about Him; it’s about experiencing His resurrecting power in our lives. This power brings new life and transformation, making us more like Him and giving us purpose. So, as you go through your day, remember that the greatest success is not in a title, achievement, or any number of wins; it is to “gain Christ and be found in Him.”
The pyramid of priorities helps us visually remember to keep Jesus first. It’s a commitment to prioritizing our lives in the order of God, spouse, kids, and everything else. To honestly know Jesus, we have to keep Him first.
- How does your daily life reflect your priority on knowing Jesus above all other achievements and successes?
- What practical steps can you take to keep Jesus at the top of your priority pyramid?
- Ask God to reveal where you can know Him more fully. What next step will you take?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: Philippians 3:4-11
Read these verses three times slowly.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal,persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to knowChrist—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Reflection & Questions
Paul was The Man when it came to being and doing “all the right things.” He had lived the life that should have qualified him as the GOAT of his time. And yet he called all of those qualifications “garbage” when considering the life he now had with Christ Jesus as his Lord.
That’s the truth for our lives as well. We might think we are doing all the right things, own the coolest stuff, and have everything all figured out. But all of those things are just that: things. The greatest “thing” we can have is Jesus as our Savior, our best friend, guiding us, and saving us from certain death. We’ve got heaven coming our way and there is nothing we could have done or anything we could have owned that would have gotten us there EXCEPT Jesus and His gift of salvation. Everything else is just trash!
- What are some “things” in your life that you tend to put above Jesus? How does this scripture and reflection put the importance of those “things” into perspective?
Pray
Thank God for the greatest gift, the best “thing” you have ever been given – eternal life through the salvation from Jesus Christ!
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
