• How badly do we want to know the character of Jesus?
• Do we strive to know Him more and more, or are we satisfied with what we already know?

Are we striving toward Jesus?

What is the “that” Paul means?  He was a circumcised Jew from Israel, from one of the twelve tribes of Jacob (of Benjamin’s tribe), a Hebrew, a keeper of the Law, a Pharisee, and at one time, he was also a persecutor of the believers, (a chief sinner).  However, “More than that, . . .” this man of God counted all of his worldly deeds “to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus . . . .”

Do we?

Can we look at our life accomplishments and say:  Rubbish in comparison to my walk with Christ?

• ALL of me I give to ALL of YOU, LORD.
• ALL of me I give to ALL of YOU, JESUS.
• ALL of me I give to ALL of YOU, SPIRIT OF GOD.

This must be our daily focus, giving all that we are, all that we have, and all that we will ever be to our Savior.

This week, during a Bible study focused on Martha, a woman who lived in Bethany, a village outside Jerusalem.  Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus, and they were friends of Jesus.  Oftentimes, Martha would open her home to provide shelter to Jesus, to cook for Him, to serve the Lord.  However, Martha also listened to Jesus’ teachings.  As a woman living in that century, one who was not regarded as one who could understand the deep theological teachings of Jesus, Martha did, and Jesus recognized her deep longing for the “greater” teachings.  We know this because the Bible reveals this during an encounter Jesus had with Martha.

Lazarus had died, and Martha wondered why Jesus did not come to her home sooner, for if He had, then Lazarus would have not died.  Jesus assured her that Lazarus would rise again, and Martha knew this to be true because she believed in the resurrection of the dead at the end of time.  However, Jesus knew how the glory of God would be restored—that day, and Jesus knew that Lazarus would live again—that day.

• Death is not the end but simply the end of living in the body of flesh.  “Do you believe this?”
• Death will not have the final say, but God will.  “Do you believe this?”
• All who have given their hearts to Jesus will live again, forevermore.  “Do you believe this?”
• Anyone who has not believed in Jesus will be separated from the presence of God for all eternity.  “Do you believe this?”

Today, may we be reminded how each one of us have a to-do list of items we wish to accomplish today, this week, or even during this month and year.  Yet, if we are not careful, we can become overburdened by our tasks, by our to-do list, by our future items, and by the tiredness we feel in accomplishing that we need to do.  Why is that?  Why do we allow the cares of this earthly life to overshadow that which we know should be our focus?

Our focus should be twofold:  testifying to others Jesus is  “the Christ, the Son of God,” & daily studying God’s Word to understand “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, . . . .“

Earthly cares can overwhelm us, so we must be eagerly fixated on the return of King Jesus and the lostness of souls that surround us.

Are we striving toward Jesus?