The priceless value of knowing Christ

September 20, 2026

Today we are continuing in our series from Philippians and we are looking at chapter three. The title of my message is “The priceless value of knowing Christ”. So far, we have seen…

  1. Paul was thankful for the Philippians and he prayed that they would grow in their faith.
  2. Paul was thankful that Christ was being preached. Even though he was in prison.
  3. Paul lived his life for Christ. To Paul to live is Christ, to die is gain.
  4. Paul asked them to live as citizens of heaven. He wanted them to represent Christ well.
  5. Have the attitude of Christ – be unified, be interested in others, be humble.
  6. Shine brightly for Christ – continue to shine whether Paul is with them or not.
  7. Paul commended Timothy – he cared for the Philippians, he cared for Christ’s work, he helped Paul greatly.
  8. Paul commended Epaphroditus – a true brother, a co-worker, a fellow soldier, and a messenger in his need.

So already we have seen a lot. We have also got a big glimpse of Paul’s heart and his love for the church at Philippi. Today we will see three more main points.

Bible Reading – Philippians 3:1-21

Message Points

Today I want to share three main points.

1. The priceless value of knowing Christ

My first point today is the “Priceless value of knowing Christ”. It is found in verses 3:1-11.

In the first part of chapter three Paul shares the idea that knowing Christ is everything. This is something he held dear and he taught to others. In verse 1 he says, “I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith”.

Why would he say he wants to safeguard their faith? In verses 2-4 Paul then talks about people wanting to get them to live under the old ways. Things like circumcision and following the Law in their own strength to make them right with God.

It seems in our reading of the New Testament that often when Paul went and planted churches, people would follow his path and try to pervert the truth. Often this meant turning people back to old Jewish customs and ways of living. Some Jewish converts could not just let go of the past. Some deep down wanted to work for their salvation. Some wanted to hold on to power.

Paul knew and understood this way of living. In verses 4-6 he lists his long list of achievements as a Jew and a Pharisee. Paul described himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews. This means both his mother and father all the way back was Jewish. There were no other nations mixed in his heritage. He also says he lived out the Law without fault, he persecuted the early church with a passion and he was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. The Tribe of Benjamin was the only tribe that stayed faithful to God when the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were divided. This tribe also gave the nation its first king, whom Paul/Saul was named after. So, in his own eyes he really thought he was serving God as good anyone could possibly do.

The Pharisees

The Pharisees were a strict religious sect that numbered about 6000 in total at the time of Christ.  They were lay people who were middle class merchants that devoted themselves to the observance of the Law of Moses (first five books of Old Testament as we know it) and they also paid special attention to laws that were interpreted by the Rabbi’s to protect and apply the law to everyday life. There were laws 613 in total.

In many ways the Pharisees saw themselves as religious purists who were enthusiastically committed to preserving and obeying the law and they were keen to encourage others to do so. To ensure they kept ritually pure the Pharisees had a number of strict rules in regard to washing, eating, tithing, the Sabbath, divorce, oaths and clothing.

Why did the Pharisees think keeping the law was so important? For the Pharisee their religion was not just a profession it was more of a way of life. The strived hard to follow the law and keep ritually pure to be “right” with God. The Pharisees wanted Israel to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. They also believe that once Israel had remained pure for a time then the Messiah would come.

So back to Paul. In light of what a Pharisees is and Paul’s list of “achievements”, if anyone had the right to be proud of his efforts it would be Paul. But as we see in verses 7-8 he had a change of heart and life…

“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”.

Paul realised that knowing Christ and being known by Christ was all that was needed to find salvation. As he says in verse 9, “I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith”.

All the things that Paul thought very priceless and valuable, became like garbage to him. His family line of being a Hebrew of Hebrews – garbage. His belonging to the Tribe of Benjamin – garbage. His standing as a Pharisee – garbage. He discarded them all.

For us as Christians today there is a priceless value in knowing Christ too. We can’t save ourselves. We can’t work for our salvation. It is all accomplished in what Jesus did for us on the cross. He made a way, where there was no other way.

Not only is our salvation priceless, but our lives now are priceless too. We live this life now knowing that we are valuable to God and we are a key part of His continued mission in this world. We have a job to do. We have a part to play. We serve God with our gifts, we love and encourage one another, we reach people with the love and saving message of Christ. We make disciples.

So today let us hold firmly to Christ and put all our faith and hope in Him. He alone makes us righteous and right with the Father. Christ is all we need and there is priceless value in knowing Him.

2. Pressing towards the goal

Me second point comes from verses 12-21 and is “Pressing toward the goal”.

In verses 12-14 Paul says, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.

As I was reflecting on this I read the notes in the Life Application Study Bible for verses 12-14. It is interesting and explains this section well…

“3:12-14 Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him. This goal took all of Paul’s energies. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?”

I think the first line says it all – to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him”.

This idea is much deeper than coming to Christ for our salvation and knowing we will go to heaven when we die. It is all about knowing Christ, growing to be like Christ and being disciplined like an athlete to be all you can be for Christ.

In the same way, Paul tells us to be disciplined like an athlete. We need to put time and energy into our relationship with God and our growth in our faith. Spending time alone with God in prayer, reading our Bibles and fellowship are things that Pastors, Elders and guest speakers talk about often. This is because they work. They help us to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ and becoming like Him.

3. We ARE citizens of heaven

This is the second time in this short book Paul has talked about being citizens of heaven. In Philippians 1:27 he said…

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News”.

In verse 20 of today’s text her says, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Saviour.”

In chapter one verse 27 he calls us to live a life worthy of being a citizen of heaven. In this verse he reiterates that we are citizens of heaven.

Again, as I was researching I found the notes in the NLT LASB had some good thoughts. It said this on verse 20…

“Citizens of a Roman colony were expected to promote the interests of Rome and maintain the dignity of the city. In the same way, citizens of heaven ought to promote heaven’s interests on earth and lead lives worthy of heavenly citizenship. Too many Christians have failed to transfer their citizenship to heaven. They still seek earthly pleasures and treasures instead of heavenly ones. Paul told the Philippians to remember that they are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Have you transferred your citizenship? How are you promoting heaven’s interests?”

Not only should we live lives worthy of our new citizenship, but we need to remember we ARE citizens of heaven. As I have said before, our passports are not stamped with just an entry visa, our passports are brand new heavenly ones issued from the throne room of God.

Closing summary

So, in summary today I just want to summarize Paul’s heart from chapter three.

  1. The priceless value in knowing Christ – knowing Christ is far more important and valuable than anything else in this world.
  2. Pressing on towards the goal – we need to press in to Christ and our relationship with Him with the discipline and determination of an athlete.
  3. We ARE citizens of heaven – we need to live a life worthy of our new home and status.

Amen.

A heart open to grace

September 19, 2026

I really enjoyed this devotion based on the Parable of the Sower…

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” Luke 8:4–8

God always takes the initiative in our lives. We do not need to persuade Him to care for us or to extend His grace—He already does. Our relationship with Him is one of response: He sows, and we are called to receive. We say “Yes” to Him, allowing His will to take root in our lives. At the heart of His divine will is the call to hear and embrace His Word.

Today’s Gospel presents one of Jesus’ most familiar parables, rich in meaning and imagery for prayer. God is the Divine Sower, and the seed is His Word. That Word is not merely a message or set of teachings—it is the Person of Christ Himself, the Incarnate Word of God. This is one of the great mysteries of our faith. Christ is sown into the hearts of the faithful. We are not invited to solve this mystery but to receive it, enter it, ponder it, and allow it to transform us.

To enter more deeply into this mystery, imagine God the Father sowing the seed of His Son into the soil of your soul. Once we understand that Christ Himself is the Divine Seed, it becomes clear that Christianity is not merely about following a moral code or ethical system. Rather, it is about being interiorly transformed by Christ’s living presence. He is planted in us by grace, takes root in our souls, and grows, bearing spiritual fruit.

This parable also challenges us to examine the condition of our hearts. Are we hardened like the path, distracted like the rocky ground, or choked by worldly concerns like the soil filled with thorns? Or are we striving to be rich, tilled soil—open, receptive, and ready to nurture the life of Christ within?

If we extend the parable further and consider the entire field, it is consoling and inspiring to recognize the countless other souls with rich soil who also receive the living Word of God and in whom He grows and bears fruit. As members of the Body of Christ, we are not alone. We are part of a vast field, tilled and watered by divine grace.

And yet, there remains so much more to be done. Many hearts have not yet received Christ. Many remain hardened, distracted, or choked by the anxieties and pleasures of life. By receiving the Word of God and bearing fruit ourselves, we also produce seeds—seeds of the Incarnate Word meant to be sown into the lives of others. The Divine Sower desires to extend His mission through us until the end of the age.

Though this parable primarily focuses on the condition of our own hearts, we can also discern in it the urgency of the Gospel mission. The Divine Sower seeks laborers who will help sow the Word far and wide, expanding the field of the Church and multiplying its fruit.

Reflect today on the high ideals set forth in the Parable of the Sower. Move from concept to reality. This parable is not only meant to inspire, it is meant to prompt action. First, open your heart to Christ the Word through daily prayer, participation in the Sacraments, and works of charity. Then, become a co-worker with Christ. In what ways can you assist the Divine Sower? To whom can you be an instrument of the Word of God? Be receptive to His grace and resolute in your mission, that the Field of God’s Kingdom may continue to grow and flourish.

My Divine Sower and Eternal Word, You urgently desire that all people come to know You by forming hearts of fertile soil, receptive to Your saving Word. Please till the soil of my heart. Remove every weed of sin, every rock of resistance, and every thorn of worldly care. Enrich me with the grace I need so that Your Word may take deep root and bear abundant fruit. Make me also an instrument of Your divine work, sowing the seeds of Your Word in the hearts of others. Through me, may the mission of the Church flourish and Your Kingdom be extended to the ends of the earth. Jesus, I trust in You.

(Image and text from https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/09/18/a-heart-open-to-grace/)

Padre Pio’s healing prayer

September 16, 2026

Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. I thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to the world to save and to set me free. I trust in Your power and grace that sustain and restore me.

Loving Father, touch me now with Your healing hands, for I believe that Your will is for me to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit. Cover me with the Most Precious Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

Cast out anything that should not be in me. Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the power of Jesus’ Precious Blood.

Let the fire of Your healing love pass through my entire body to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function. 

Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest recesses of my heart. Saturate my entire being with Your presence, love, joy, and peace and draw me ever closer to You every moment of my life.

And Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to do Your works so that my life will bring glory and honor to Your Holy Name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Catholic links

September 14, 2026

Over the years I have spoken to a number of Catholic people who visit my website and read my blog posts.

On my links page I have added a number of Catholic links to websites that I have found useful or interesting. You can also find them below.

Catholic Links

Shine brightly with the attitude of Christ

September 13, 2026

We are going to continue with our series of messages from Philippians. This week we are up to chapter two and the title is, “Shine brightly with the attitude of Christ”.

Last week in our message Living wholeheartedly for Christ from chapter one we saw four main ideas…

  1. Paul was thankful for the Philippians and he prayed that they would grow in their faith.
  2. Paul was thankful that Christ was being preached. Even though he was in prison.
  3. Paul lived his life for Christ. To Paul to live is Christ, to die is gain.
  4. Paul asked them to live as citizens of heaven. He wanted them to represent Christ well.

This week we will have four points again.

Bible Reading

Philippians 2:1-30

Main Points

Today I want to share four main points that spoke to me as I was studying this passage this week.

1. Having the attitude of Christ

Philippians 2:1-11. It is titled, “Having the attitude of Christ”. It contains a number of ideas.

a. Be unified

Paul urges the believers to be unified in Christ. He asks them to make him happy by “agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working    together with one mind and purpose” (v2).

Being unified is about loving and caring for each other, putting differences aside and working together in our joint Kingdom purpose. Jesus prayed for His followers in John 17. He prayed that we might be one as He and the Father are one. So being unified is very important to both Jesus and Paul. Therefore, it needs to be important to us.

Being unified does not always mean we will agree on every issue. But it means we chose to put Christ and unity of faith above our issues or personal beliefs.

A.W. Tozer, in his book the The Pursuit of God said this about unity. “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So, one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.

b. Be interested in others

Verses 3 says, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too”.

Life is not just about you and me as individuals. It is about all of us. When I fall into selfish patterns I don’t look out for others. I can be concerned about my interests only. Jesus lived in a constant mission of the Father. He was interested in others to the point of sacrificing all. As we have seen in the last year. He travelled miles for the just the one person.

c. Be humble

Verses 7-8 says, “Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross”.

Christ left the glories of heaven to live in this world. He took a lowly place of a servant and even died a “criminal’s death” for our sin. His humility paved the way for our salvation. If Christ showed that humility, what do I have to be proud of?

Years ago Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, was scheduled to speak at a Large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as “our illustrious guest.” Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, “Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.” (W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, p. 243.)

So today, let us be unified in Christ’s mission, be interested in others above ourselves and be humble in all we do. Let us understand we are little servants connected to an awesome God.

2. Shine brightly for Christ

Verses 12-18 is the next section. It is titled, “Shine brightly for Christ”.

In verse 12 he says, “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear”.

In this passage Paul encourages the Philippians to continue on living right. He says they did well when he was with them, but it is important to keep it up while he is away.

As I read this passage it took me back to my primary school days. When the teacher was in the classroom with us, everyone behaved well. When the teacher left us alone, some of the kids (including me!) misbehaved. We would all sit down nicely before the teacher returned!

So, the Philippians stayed on track while he was away (unlike my school friends and I!) Paul urged them to…

  • Work hard to show the results of their salvation (v12)
  • Obey God with deep reverence and fear (v12)
  • Do everything without complaining and arguing (v14)
  • Live clean, innocent lives as children of God (v15)
  • Hold firmly to the word of life (v16)

If they continued to do these things Paul knew they would be on track. He wanted them to be a witness to the world in the way they lived. He wanted them to shine brightly in the midst of the crooked world around them.

So today, let us remember to shine brightly and be a good example in the way we live. As we do remember “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (v13). In chapter 1 we saw that God will continue the work He started in us too (1:6)

3. Paul commends Timothy

In the next section in our Bibles “Paul commends Timothy”.

In this passage the Apostle Paul speaks highly of Timothy to the Philippians. In verse 12 we see he Paul wants to send Timothy to them to see how they are going.

Bible scholars tell us that Timothy had already been to Philppi. Timothy accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey when the church was planted. So, some would have known him, but not all.

In his recommendation Paul says three encouraging things about Timothy…

a. That he really cares for the Philippians.

In verse 20 he says, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare”.

b. That he cares for Christ’s work.

Verse 21 says, “All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ”.

c. That he served Paul well.

Verse 22 says, “But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News”.

This is a great recommendation! One that most of us would be proud of. In it we see that Timothy really cares for the Philippians, he cares for Christ’s work and he serves Paul and the Gospel like a son serving his father.

When I read this passage, I can see why Paul love his “spiritual” son in the faith so much. He was a great young man with lots of potential and he really cared about what mattered to God.

4. Paul commends Epaphroditus

In previous verses Paul commended Timothy. In verses 25-30 he commends Epaphroditus.

a. Commends him for his work

Verse 25 says, “Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need”.

The church at Philippi took up an of offering for Paul while he was in prison in Rome. This was to help him through his time of need. The church sent Epaphroditus to deliver the offering and stay with Paul for a while.

Paul really appreciated the offering from the church he planted on his second missionary journey. In Philippians 4:18 he calls it a “sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God”.

Paul also appreciated Epaphroditus coming and being with him. As we see above he described him as a true brother, a co-worker, a fellow soldier, and a messenger in his need. Often when we have been away from home serving God for a while, there is great joy catching up with someone from home.

b. Paul commends him back to the church

In the final section of verses 29-30 Paul commends him back to the church and Philippi and asks them to recognise his great work…

“Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honour that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away”.

Honoring people who served well was a big part of the early church. We see this in the commending of both Timothy and Epaphroditus. I believe it is something we should continue to practice today.

Closing summary

Today we looked at Philippians chapter two and saw four main points.

  1. Have the attitude of Christ – be unified, be interested in others, be humble
  2. Shine brightly for Christ – continue to shine whether Paul is with them or not
  3. Paul commended Timothy – he cared for the Philippians, he cared for Christ’s work, he helped Paul greatly
  4. Paul commended Epaphroditus – a true brother, a co-worker, a fellow soldier, and a messenger in his need

Amen