Hard to Let Go – April 8, 2019

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.
Philippians 3:8

Hard to Let Go

Several months back my parents were cleaning out their basement. After 30 years of living in the same house, you can imagine how much stuff had accumulated. In the process of going through it all, they found some things that I had received throughout my childhood – things like games, toys, and pictures. I gave them the go ahead to toss many items into the garbage bin.

But there was one box that was hard to let go. It contained old trophies from my years of playing baseball and basketball. I had not seen those trophies in years, yet for some reason I was unwilling to let them go. They were a source of pride. They made me feel good about myself. I didn’t want to throw them in the garbage.

We all want to hang onto things like that. We desperately cling to whatever makes us feel good about ourselves. We want to know how good we are and often want others to know it too.

In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul reminds us that there is something far better to hang onto than reminders of what we have accomplished. Jesus and his work of saving us from sin and death is what we need to hang onto. Knowing Jesus and his love is more valuable than anything else in our lives. Paul says nothing else in our life can begin to compare to “knowing Jesus Christ my Lord.” In him we have forgiveness and are saved from the punishment our sins deserve. In him we are going to heaven—forever. Now THAT…is worth hanging onto.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to cling to you more and more. Amen.