Bible Society of South Africa
Neville Turley

Time is precious – Day 18

Time to get one’s priorities sorted

Bible text(s)

Philippians 3

14So I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

Philippians 3:14GNBOpen in Bible reader

Thanks to the privileges of his birth and upbringing, Paul was an early achiever.

Paul, because he was born in Tarsus, was entitled to all the benefits and protection the Roman Empire offered its citizens.

As a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin and a Pharisee, his standing and credentials were impeccable. Paul’s zealousness in the persecution of Christian believers and his righteousness based on the law, assured him of a glittering future.

Then on the road to Damascus, he had a one-on-one meeting with the risen Lord Jesus. It turned his life upside down.

After meeting our Lord Jesus Christ, all Paul’s past privileges and achievements paled into insignificance. “Rubbish” was the strong term he used to describe their worth in comparison to what God had given him in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:5-6).

Paul’s loyalty and commitment to our Lord and Saviour was total. We should be inspired by his example. Our conversion may not have been as dramatic as Paul’s was but somewhere along life’s way, we met the resurrected Jesus and responded.

It sometimes happens that our spiritual life loses its sparkle. We become jaded. To the delight of the devil, we neglect to talk to the Lord in prayer or to read his Word and we skip worship services without valid reasons.

That is when we need to get back on track.

It’s not a matter of getting our priorities right but getting our priority right – the Lord Jesus Christ. He must always rank number one, the foundation on which your faith is grounded and on which your life is built around.

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