The apostle Paul had more reasons than any of us today to glory in his accomplishments, and yet he made it clear that his resumé meant nothing to him.

In fact, Paul counted "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."

The truth is, Paul didn’t lay aside anything to follow Christ that he shouldn’t have laid aside. He had been super-religious as a Pharisee, trying to gain entrance into heaven in his own power. But when he had an encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, he learned that a relationship with the living God surpassed everything he’d ever done or could do on his own. His accomplishments were rubbish.

Actually, at the very bottom line, he had given up nothing of value and yet gained everything.

How many of us today refuse to lay aside those things that have no value? How many of us so pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus that we count all else as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Him, really knowing Him?

Are you willing to lay aside everything that competes with your love and devotion for Christ? As you live moment by moment, do you make knowing Him your top priority?