Daily Reflections on Phil. 3:8-11 (What's Life About Anyway?)

As I write this I'm sitting in an ICU waiting room with my father struggling for his life in the next room. Hospital waiting rooms are a unique place, especially ICU where everyone's loved one is in crisis. All else stops. Work, school, daily priorities, urgent tasks all seem to be less important. At these moments you can't help but reflect on what really matters in life.

Obviously God never intended for us just to sit around contemplating the lint in our navel. Paul says those who don't work don't get to eat. James says that those who don't take care of the needs of their families are worse than infidels. But when all else is stripped away, what are we left with?

The only thing that really means anything right now to my dad is his relationship with Christ. That's been his whole life, serving Christ, proclaiming Christ, holding up Christ. Recently, because of my dad's failing health, my folks downsized. Sold were the tools and toys and stuff that once seemed so important. Now? Hanging onto Christ is all he has.

I was reading these verses as a teen when I felt God's call on my life. It was one of those moments when I came face to face with God and the issue was whose was I going to be. It was as if God said, "Are you gonna give me your life or aren't you? What's it gonna be?" I chose to gain Christ.

Since that moment, my life changed. By pursuing Christ I stopped having to prove myself. I walk in the confidence of Christ, not my personality or gift mix or talents or intelligence or good looks. I stopped worrying about what my peers thought of me and started focusing on what Christ thought of me and fulfilling His purpose for my life. What a freeing experience!

God, there certainly are a lot of pulls on me in life, things that call me to direct my attention toward. Help me give the proper priority to those things that matter most. I don't want to reach the end of my life only to realize I chased the wrong things. Thanks for the security I have in you. My life is yours! Thanks also for my dad's promise of gaining you.