YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE SECONDARY
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Tuesday 20th September 2022
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 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.” Philippians 3:7-8 (KJV)
Apostle Paul had been taken to the third heaven. He wrote almost all the epistles we see in the new testaments. You can hardly preach any message without quoting from Paul’s epistles. Yet as he was coming to the end of his ministry, his major desire is that he may know Christ. When you begin to appreciate what Christ has done on your behalf, you will keep on following Him. No one will tell you to go bananas for Him. Paul said I’ve not yet known Him. His desire remained constant: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10 KJV).
Many believers believe they have arrived. Beloved, you have never arrived as long as you are in this flesh. Until Christ comes to take us home you have not arrived. We must always depend on Him. You can’t depend on yourself. You can’t flaunt any achievement. Your only achievement is the mercy and grace of God.
In the book of Galatians 2:20, Paul declares: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. Arrogance and pride are so subtle. They can just sip in and you won’t know you are already arrogant. Give them no room in your heart! Always let God be at the center of it all. And walk in the realization that your achievement is secondary. The primary thing is that you are who you are by the Grace of God.
Further Readings: Philippians 3:1-21, 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ecclesiastes 4-6; Evening- 2 Corinthians 12