What is your source of joy? There are many good things on this earth that can bring joy – our families, hobbies, even the work of our hands – but for the Apostle Paul, nothing brought him more joy than the Lord. His letter to the Philippians is filled to the brim with his perspective and experiences in loving God above all, so much so that he urges the Philippians with full authority and credibility to rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 3:1). But if our ultimate joy is found Jesus alone (John 15:9-11), why does joy seem so hard to come by? The secret is in our attitude and the way our attitudes cause us to live our lives. Experiencing the abundant joy that God has for us begins with loving Jesus above all.

Love Jesus Above All Gain

If anyone had reason to boast about their credentials or accomplishments it would have been Paul. By the standards of the men of his day, Paul had everything anyone could want and more: he was a descendant of Abraham, was circumcised on the 8th day, from an elite tribe of Israel, and was even from the elite sect of pharisees. Yet despite having a pedigree that many others wanted, Paul now counted these things as loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:7). The things that he once boasted of and held dear now paled in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus. If we want to love Jesus above all, He must come before any of our interests, desires, or accomplishments.

Love Jesus Above All Things

What are you willing to lose to follow Jesus? Paul didn’t just count his pedigree as loss, he even counted his personal freedom and liberty as loss having written his letter to the Philippians from prison. Knowing Jesus, experiencing the renewing power of His resurrection, and having an intimate relationship with Him was enough of a reason for Paul to count all things as loss (Philippians 3:8). In the same way, we too will have to count the cost of following Jesus. When we are all-in for Christ, we can look forward to experiencing His power like Paul did, and we get to watch God work! Is there anything in your life competing with your love for Jesus?

Love Jesus Above Our Past

For many of us, the biggest obstacle to loving Jesus above all is our past – unforgiveness, wounds from past relationships, or maybe even guilt. If anyone knew about having a terrible past, it was Paul. Once a persecutor of Christians, complicit even in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 22:20), Paul did not let his past define him. Instead, Paul said, “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).” Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross is greater than any of our pasts. It says in Romans 8:1, “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” If your past is a burden that is holding you back from loving Jesus above all, remember that you do not have to carry that burden anymore.

When we love Jesus above all gain, above all things, and above even our past, He equips us to press on and energetically pursue His will for us without any hesitation. Are you willing to tell the Lord today, “Jesus, I’m all yours. Use me.”?

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LAST WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, (Philippians 3:7-8)