Scripture verse that caught my attention today: Philippians 2:16 It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Observation: Paul had a narrow but huge metric for measuring his ‘success’—whether people held fast to the word of life.
Application: On Sunday I referenced a journal entry from the other day when I mentioned that, according to Ecclesiastes, all is vanity. I recounted how, for Ecclesiastes, joy is found not so much in accomplishment, but in the process of building or participating in the journey.
But there is one accomplishment that, at least for Paul, is worthy of pursuit—persuading/encouraging/teaching people to hold “fast to the word of life.”
In this world of many an empty or over-rated promise, finding ways to help people hold fast to the word of life is indeed a worthy pursuit. In fact, for those of us who are ordained ministers, it is the essence of our calling.
Prayer: Lord, there are many pursuits in life, but a relatively small number of them are worthy of such pursuit. Help us to be wise in where we place our energies. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 2 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10-11, Philippians 2)
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