the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. Psalms 73:25. 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. Philippians 3:8.
Asaph and St. Paul, and all who truly know Jesus, find nothing more desirable than Him. Even here on earth, walking by faith, they find more in Jesus than heaven and earth can offer. What then, will they not find in Him, and how will they not enjoy Him in heaven where they shall see Him as He is, and be like Him! But these heroes of faith have few followers nowadays. Most people speak in the opposite manner and say, as they think: "If I only have the world and its treasures; if I only can satisfy the desires of the flesh; if I only possess honor and fame among men, what do I care about Jesus? ’ Others, who do not go quite as far,’ think: "If only I can get to heaven some day, what do I care about the knowledge of Christ Jesus? " Oh, ye children of men, ye desire too little; ye may possess infinitely more than all the possessions of earth and humanity, yea, of heaven itself. Jesus Christ will bestow Himself upon you: in Him ye have more than a thousand worlds, more than the heaven of heavens. To know Him, and in Him the Father, is life eternal. "The knowledge of Christ Jesus" is more than all earthly riches; more blessed than all the pleasures of the flesh; more glorious than all honor and fame among men. Without Him, and beside Him, everything is nothing; heaven itself is no longer heaven, but a desert and a hell. Without Him, and beside Him, everything is loathsome and less than nothing; as Paul says that all else is "loss" and "dung. " Therefore, be not blinded by earthly glitter, by vain glory. He that is in possession of Christ, is in possession of everything; he possesses infinitely more than all wealth without Christ. He who does not possess Christ, has Him against himself; he who has Christ for an opponent, has never tasted real joy. Nor is this all: if you do not recognize Christ Jesus as your Lord; if you do not possess Him as your Redeemer and Savior; if He is not your all in all, He is your Judge; and since you have rejected Him and given other things the preference, He will reject you. What can the world with all its pleasures and glory help you? What can money and property, fame and honor among men profit you before His judgment seat? What can deliver you from ’’the wrath to come? " The fact remains: There is not only no higher gain than Christ, but all gain is loss and dung if we do not possess Christ. He that possesses Him has all things in abundance.
My hope, my all, my Savior Thou!
To Thee, O Lord, my soul I bow.
I seek the bliss Thy wounds impart,
I long to find Thee in my heart.
