In Pursuit of Christ

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Today's Text: Philippians 3:7-12

Key Verse: Philippians 3:7 (ESV): "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ."

As I meditate on this passionate confession of Apostle Paul, the image in my heart is what a seasoned investor would do with a newly found explossive business. Or what wouldI do if I was meticulously managing a portfolio of what I believe is a valuable assets. Then, suddenly, I discover a single, rare gem of immeasurable worth. I guess that in that instant, as long as all the other holdings that I once considered precious are pale in comparison to the newly found, I would willingly discard them to acquire this one priceless treasure. This is the context of Philippians 3:7-12. The apostle had to radically re-evaluate his values and found his singular pursuit of Christ, a better treasure.

That is why it was easy for him to articulate such profound shift in priorities: "whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Dear brethren, this isn't merely a casual statement; no! It is a revolutionary re-evaluation of everything he once held dear. You will appreciate this better if you know Paul as a man of impressive pedigree. So, he went on to reveal to us, in the text, how he is a Pharisee, zealous persecutor of Christians, and highly respected in his Jewish community. Yet, he chose to view all these earthly achievements as worthless in comparison to the incomparable value of knowing Jesus Christ.

We, too, cannot love God without some shifted priorities. We are challenged by

Paul's declaration to also completely re-evaluate the things that truly matters in life to us. We can't genuinely walk with Christ and nothing of the things that were once source of pride and status to us would change. Some of them must become unnecessary; some appear utterly insignificant, and others even detrimental, when compared to our relationship with Christ. And to a melted spirit, these aren't a reluctant trade, but a joyful discarding of what we considered "rubbish" to lay hold of something infinitely superior. In a nutshell, our spiritual well-being is our focus, not our worldly status, accomplishments, or material possessions.

Our deep sense of worth is a radical, intentional renunciation of anything that might hinder or compete with our pursuit of Christ. And this is not a one-time spiritual event. No. Notice the language Paul uses: it suggests that this re-evaluation is not a static decision but an ongoing process. He continues to "press on" toward spiritual perfection. We too must continue to let go of self and seek an ever-deepening pursuit of Christlikeness. This is our journey; a daily life of surrender and devotion.

Action Steps: Take time to reflect on what you consider "gain" in your life—your achievements, possessions, status. Ask yourself if these things are hindering your pursuit of Christ. Intentionally choose to prioritize your relationship with Jesus above all else, seeing worldly gains as secondary or even loss in comparison. Pray for the humility and wisdom to continually re-evaluate your priorities in light of Christ's supreme worth.

Quote for the Day: "To gain Christ, we must willingly count all else as loss. The reason is simple: the priceless treasure of Christ's presence far outweighs every earthly gain." (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to truly understand the immeasurable worth of knowing Him, and to willingly count all our earthly gains as loss for His sake. Grant us the courage and conviction to reorder our lives, focusing solely on gaining Christ and being found in Him, not on our own merits, but through Your grace. In Jesus's most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for being part of this journey. For additional reading on today's meditation, read: Matthew 13:44-46, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, and Galatians 2:20.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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