Daily Reading for Wednesday, Jan. 9

Philippians 1:10a “So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences]…” The Amplified Bible

Yesterday, we discussed the foundational role that love plays in determining our values. We must not make the mistake of having any other starting point. There is a statement that says “If you begin what a wrong assumption, you will end up with the wrong conclusion.” How true that is. When we really take a long, hard look at what we value, we must start with love. The bible passage tells us that Paul wanted our love to abound so that we could learn to sense what was vital—what mattered above all else—and approve and prize that which has real value. When we approve something, we not only believe that it is valuable, we act as though it does. When we prize something, we do all that we can to attain that which we prize. Two runners may have equal ability—but the difference comes between which runner prizes the victory the most. When we make the leap from belief to action, we must have our values cemented in the love of Christ, so that we can truly live and strive for those excellent things that a Christ-filled person prizes above all else.