“Loss & Profit”

THE more time I spend in the Word, the more I see that which is counterintuitive.  Today’s Lessons from the Garden rendering from None But The Hungry Heart points to that very thing. 

HOW would you define that which is counterintuitive? A quick dictionary or web search might produce something like “contrary to what human intuition or common sense would suggest.” Reading James 1:2-3, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” – one might ask, “Really? ….count it all joy when you fall into various trials?”  That’s not the way we normally think; it is as the word goes, “counterintuitive.”  But such thinking is most of what we encounter in Scripture. His thoughts are not ours; nor are our thoughts His.  Isa 55:8&9.

BUT we do live in a material world that is often counterintuitive to our expectations.  Fire is hazardous, yet with refining gold or silver: it’s only through intense heat that impurities are removed, and the precious metal is made pure. Similarly, gardens just don’t happen and depend much on the principle of life out of death. Consider a seed—it has to be buried in the dark soil, which seems unpleasant, but that’s exactly how it decays and grows into something flourishing. And for a modern analogy—think of a video game: you don’t level up without facing tougher challenges!

“If you want to get better at any sport, you have to play with someone who is better than you are. You have to be willing to lose to win.” – Mark Batterson, “Chase the Lion”

TODAY’S NBTHH reading 2-11 is titled Loss & Profit.  In life’s journey, the balance between loss and gain often shapes us deeply. Today’s reflection invites us to see how, in the Christian life, what we lose in ourselves may be what we gain in Christ. Let’s consider what it means to profit by loss in the things that matter most.

In the inexorable riches of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa 30:15; Job 2:10; Jas. 1:2; Prov. 21:30
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2-11. “Loss & Profit”

“Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ-sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory” (Rom. 8:17, Amp.).

The term “profit and loss” is reversed in the Christian life to “loss and profit.” The principle never varies: our losses are all in the realm of the old, never the new. Every loss in the life of self brings greater gain and profit in the new-our life in Christ. And, conversely, every gain for the self-life is loss for our growth and His glory. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Phil. 3:7).

“It is not the design of God to deprive His children of happiness, but only to pour the cup of bitterness into that happiness which the believer has in anything outside of Christ.” -F.F.

“Everything that tries us, that is a check upon us, that causes exercise of heart, and makes us sensible of weakness in ourselves, is of the nature of chastisement (child-training). It may come in the way of difficulties in the path of faith; or in the shape of such trials and sorrows as are common to all men-loss of property, loss of health, or bereavement; or it may be as the governmental consequences of sin; but in one way or other all have it. It is ‘for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness’ (Heb. 12:10). That is, it serves to break down that which is not of God in us, that the life of the Lord Jesus might be made manifest.” – C.A.C.

“When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).