Listen

But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith.

Philippians 3:8-9

Think

A funny thing about today’s scripture is that Paul uses the phrase “sewer trash.” The Greek word he uses really means something a bit more like… poop. Yes, poop. (Hey, don’t blame me, Paul is the one who said it!)

Paul accomplished so many great things and had such a great sense of pride in himself — but he tells us that his personal pride might as well be “poop” compared to the pride he has because of Christ’s faithfulness to him.

And Christ IS faithful! When we feel stuck or fearful, let’s recount some stories of God’s faithfulness, like when God helped the Hebrew people go safely through the Red Sea. Or how Jesus healed the sick people who came to him for help. Or how God helped you or a friend through something hard.

When we trust God instead of our own accomplishments, we can know that God will be faithful to us — these stories will remind us that God has done it before. And God will do it again!

Erin Spengeman Hutchison

Pray

God, when I feel stuck or worried or feel like everything is going wrong, help me to pause and remember the ways you have been faithful to me and to others. Thank you for being faithful to me! Help me to be faithful to you, too. Amen.

Go

Know that Christ is alongside you, arm in arm like a good friend.

Christ is behind you, helping you.

Christ is ahead of you, showing you the way.

Christ is below you, carrying your worry.

Christ is above you, illuminating your path.

Christ is within you, for you are his home.