THE MOST PRECIOUS THING

 

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

 

THE MOST PRECIOUS THING

 

Phil 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

          Paul is remembered for many things. He even lists some of those things for his neophyte, Timothy. “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Paul did all those things and more – but when Paul spoke of himself, he became thoughtful and stripped away his doings to remember the most precious thing. Everything else in Paul’s long list of accomplishments and everything in his trove of valuables faded to rubbish beside this most precious thing. This one thing.

 

          Similarly, I searched great minds for quotes that would indicate their opinion of precious principles to retain above all others. Here are a few of my findings.

 

“Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”

― John Newton, Amazing Grace

 

“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.”

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

          Interestingly, one surprise was a quote by a cartoonist. Bill Keane was an American cartoonist who is known mostly for his work on the long-running newspaper comic The Family Circus.

 

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present.”

― Bill Keane

 

Dear Lord, thank you for messengers who encourage us along the way. AMEN