The Excelling Value of Knowing Christ

When the excellence of knowing Christ shines through, everything else fades like dust beside a treasure unearthed.

Bob Hoekstra’s devotional for April 14 invites us to step into the mindset of the Apostle Paul, who had every worldly and religious reason to boast—and yet gave it all up for one surpassing treasure: knowing Christ. Paul doesn't just reflect on what he gave up once; he describes a continual, present-tense reevaluation of all things through the lens of Christ’s surpassing worth. The excellence of knowing Jesus isn’t a one-time benefit received at conversion. It’s an ongoing, intimate experience that eclipses all worldly gain and religious accolades.

Paul saw the brilliance of Jesus so clearly that everything else faded into the background—not with regret, but with joy. Even seemingly good pursuits were discarded like garbage if they posed even the slightest hindrance to deeper intimacy with Christ. This isn't legalism—it’s love. It’s not religious duty—it’s relational desire. His life was no longer shaped by titles or achievements but by a single, holy ambition: “that I may know Him.”

Journal Entry in the Voice of the Holy Spirit:

I have drawn you near, not to instruct you in systems, but to delight in fellowship with you. You once found value in your own achievements, the applause of others, and even the spiritual credentials you carried—but now, in Me, you see how small those treasures are beside the radiant fullness of Christ in you, the hope of glory.

I have opened your eyes to see the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, and as your gaze remains fixed on Him, the attachments that once bound you begin to fall away. They are no longer needed, for in Him you are complete. The Spirit of Christ within you is not satisfied with casual acquaintance—I am leading you into the deeper places of intimate union.

Each morning is a fresh opportunity to say with Paul, “I count all things loss.” This is not an obligation but a joyful release, like casting off weight that keeps you from soaring. What once defined you—your reputation, your roles, your résumé—is no longer your identity. You are defined by Christ in you.

As you surrender not by effort but by resting in Me, I guide you into the knowledge of Him—not merely facts, but communion. This is the goal: not productivity, not perfectionism, but presence. That you may know Him. And in knowing Him, find all joy, all meaning, and all fullness.

Philippians 3:5, 3:7–10; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 17:3; Hebrews 12:2

Prayer of Trust:

Lord Jesus, You are the treasure my heart has always longed for. Today, I don’t look back with regret at what has faded away—I rejoice that in Your love, You’ve realigned my affections. I trust You to keep leading me into a deeper awareness of Your presence. I rest in the confidence that nothing I’ve lost compares to what I’ve gained in You. And I yield this day, this moment, this breath, to Your indwelling presence in me. Let all lesser loves bow before the excellence of knowing You.

Devotional Credit:
Theme adapted from Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra.
Photo Credit: Image sourced from Unsplash.

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