Faith, the Greatest Gift

In order that I may win Christ and be found in him. (Philippians 3:8, 9)

Phil. 3:4-14

What Is God Saying?

Faith is the most precious gift because it opens the door to our most priceless treasure. Through faith, we think of everything else (however highly prized by the world) as worthless rubble. Christ is the pearl of great price. Nothing compares with being saved and safe in Christ. Paul lists several things that he claimed to his credit and about which he might boast—a good religious track record and a fine lineage (the tribe of Benjamin). He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a faultless Pharisee. He did not lack religious zeal when it came to persecuting the Church and keeping the law. He had it made, but then Christ came to him. He was blinded on the road to Damascus and saw for the first time the road to Heaven. All of those hard-earned religious credentials were worthless. He was saved and safe by faith in the living Lord, and everything else lost its luster.

How Does This Apply To Us?

To win Christ means simply receiving Christ and setting aside all lesser things. In Christ, we are not just saved but safe. Found in Him! Covered by His grace, rejoicing in His pardon, protected from the accusations of conscience, sheltered by His mighty love, at peace with God, and therefore at peace in the world. We can take our burdens to the Lord and leave them with Him. Saved and safe in Christ, we can reach out in loving concern that others may find security in His sheltering love—a good way to come to prayer, a good reason to stay in prayer.

Pray With Me

Father, I thank You for Your gift of faith.

To receive Your righteousness is my only defense; to embrace Your victory is my only glory; to accept Christ’s death on the Cross is my only hope and security. All other gifts are insignificant compared to this. Through faith to win Christ; through faith to know that I am His and He is mine; through faith to win Him and, in doing so, to win every victory; through faith to possess Him whom to have is to own every eternal blessing. And because I am found in Him, I am covered by His grace. I am protected from evil. I am no longer lost in the world. My life moves toward fulfillment instead of futility. Having gained Him, I shall always be found in Him.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of faith by which I embrace forever the gift of Your love in Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Moving On In The Life Of Prayer

If we have received so much through faith, isn't it time to share it with others? When more of our prayer time is spent thinking of others, we spend more of our prayer time just praising God for the gift of faith—the door to salvation, the light of hope, the shelter of love, the blessing of peace.