More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:8, LSB
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, desires for us to only count Him as the thing of value in our lives, nothing else. How many of us would celebrate the loss of prestige, security, and home? Yet, this is exactly what Paul faced and what is being spoken of here by Paul. If we are rejected by the world for the sake of the Gospel, we are called to celebrate our Lord. He is the only thing that we are meant to see as value in our lives. Our Lord desires to put Him above any other relationship that we have in our lives. Paul was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually lost his life for the sake of the Gospel. Yet, he persisted in sharing even with those who were in charge of his punishment. This is the faith that we are called to as Christians. Suffering will happen in our lives, regardless of our faith. We are called to pray not only that we may avoid further suffering but, more importantly, we are to pray for an abiding faith within any suffering that we may face. We can ask for the Lord’s mercy and care to carry us through the trials that will come before us and that we endure, holding fast to the convictions that our Lord places in our hearts.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.