We have all had this experience: We were somewhere out in nature, and we displaced a rock only to discover that under that rock was an entire ecosystem of bugs that were busy about their daily routines, only to be disturbed when we lifted the rock and exposed them. Suddenly, realizing that their covering was gone, they began scattering.

In Philippians 3 starting in verse 7, Paul explains how he has changed in how he values the things he once thought were so important. He says,

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,  (Philippians 3:7-9, NASB95)

Put another way, Paul said, “Whatever used to be so important to me, all I know is that now, in comparison to knowing Jesus, those things are nothing. All I want now is to gain Christ and to be found in Him!”

That word found is the point for this post. In the Greek, it carries with it the sense of that moment of reckoning; that moment when our lives are called to be counted as they really are.

Of course, the big moment of accounting is when we die. But life provides us with many situations that expose what we value. A fender bender, someone harasses a family member, our finances come up short . . . you get the idea.

Life presents us with moments that expose us for who we really are.

Often, when I pray for myself or my children, I will pray, “Father, let them be found in Jesus, not having their own righteousness that comes from the law [attempts at self-righteousness], but that which comes through faith in Jesus Christ!”

Today, as you go though your day, you can pray, “Lord, let me be found in You!”

Categories: How to Live, Life in the Middle, Personal Growth, Spiritual Formation

Tags: life suddenly exposed, Philippians 3:7-9, Prayer, Righteousness by faith