What are the things we redeem?

• Time – to use it wisely
• Rewards – to earn money or credit using credit cards
• Ourself – to correct wrongs done

What about all the things we take pride in, our bragging rights, the things we have confidence in, that give us a sense of security, or accomplishment or value?

Do those things need redeemed?

An ancient preacher and writer, Paul, addressed this idea in a letter he wrote to a group of Jesus followers in Philippi.

Paul was a very accomplished guy in his day. He had family status, social status, state status, religious status, and educational status. He had the personality of success: zeal, energy, charisma, drive, ability, opportunity. He seemed to have all.

Yet.

Yes Jesus got a hold of his heart and did some work on it. Paul, through trials, struggles, and hardships was brought to a place in his life where he could/would actually say “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that that I could gain Christ.”

How’s that for bragging?

And the questions surface:

• What do we take pride in? Where do we place our confidence? How do we define ourselves?
• What stands in our way of truly knowing Jesus? What hinders us, blocks us, cripples us from truly pursuing Christ?
• If we evaluate everything in our life, would we be willing to consider them worthless because of what Christ has done? Worthless compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ? Would we discard it all, count it all garbage so we could gain Christ?

That’s a tough question. One that Paul faced. And he chose to let the Lord redeem it all. Because he looked forward to the heavenly prize, the goal, the reward.

God called. Paul answered.

Will I?