Jesus is Everything

A Daily Grace Devotional

 1-2 Minute Read

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:7-9).

There aren’t many people more religious than Paul was before he met Jesus. He kept the law and did everything he could to be righteous through his own effort. His conclusion about his religious past is one of the reasons that he clung so relentlessly to God’s grace. He said of his efforts, “I consider everything a loss…. I consider them garbage.”

What did he discover that caused him to leave religion behind? He found “the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ.” He learned the lesson God wants us to learn. We can’t achieve righteousness through our own performance. The law produces religion but faith in Christ produces a true righteousness that comes from God.

It isn’t a matter of either being religious or being lawless. It is a matter of knowing Christ through faith or ending up with the emptiness that comes from our own law-keeping that doesn’t produce the life God desires. Paul’s testimony is the same as ours. The only righteousness that counts is the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

We who have seen the emptiness of our failed attempts to please God by keeping the law can be eternally grateful that God accepts our faith in Christ. That is what produces righteousness. That’s the reason we can say with Paul that it isn’t religion God wants from us, but a relationship with His Son, Jesus, through faith.

The Heart of The Gospel

The Heart of The Gospel

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-4). Paul began his letter...

read more
Failure Doesn’t Disqualify Us

Failure Doesn’t Disqualify Us

“Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me...

read more
Jesus Surrounds Us with Prayer

Jesus Surrounds Us with Prayer

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). Peter, called Simon here, was certain that he would never deny the...

read more

A message from Pastor Rick Stone.

Click here for more.

What is a Grenade Launcher?

Grenade Launcher is a word picture we use to describe a ministry or person who creates and/or performs a featured grace grenade. Grace Grenades are selected as standalone items and are not a full endorsement of any other items or activities of a particular ministry or person. However, if a grace grenade is tagged with “Official Grenade Launcher” it means we recommend and are comfortable with their public offerings.