Why do we focus so much
on how we feel
and so little
on what God said?

Why do we spend so much time
preparing for this life
and so little
preparing for eternity?

Why do we spend so much time thinking
about our own suffering
and so little time
remembering the suffering of Jesus?

Why are we bound so tightly
by what others think
and so loosely
by what God thinks?

Why do we cherish our own opinions
so highly
and yet disregard
God’s truth?

Why do we find it easy to read
a novel, or a newspaper, or a memoir,
and so hard to read
God’s Word?

Why do we dedicate so much energy
to earthly pursuits
and so little
to pursuing God?

Why do our memories overflow
with past slights and hurts and difficulties
but run dry
at the memory of Jesus?

Why do we push our children
to excel in this life
and fail to tell them of
the excellence of God?

Why is it so easy to talk about
sports or the weather or politics
and so difficult to talk about
Jesus?

Why do we find it so easy to trust
our own abilities
and so hard
to trust God’s?

Why do we work to give this world
our best
and struggle to give God
our leftovers?

Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.