Tuesday: The Things That Matter
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 3rd of February 2026
As yesterday’s study pointed out, the things that previously made Paul proud were actually hindrances to faith because they blinded him to his need of Christ. Paul uses the language of commerce, gain and loss, to describe his spiritual ledger prior to faith. Although we don’t like to think about it much, every human being has a “spiritual ledger.” Previously, Paul’s ledger was measured by the Jewish values of the time rather than by the biblical values as taught by Jesus.
After his conversion, his spiritual ledger looked very different because its scale of values dramatically changed, from the “currency” of Judaism to the “currency of heaven.”
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
“He who came down from heaven can speak of heaven, and rightly present the things which form the currency of heaven, on which he has stamped his image and superscription. He knows the danger in which those are placed whom he came to uplift from degradation, and to exalt to a place beside himself upon his throne. He points out their peril in lavishing affection upon useless and dangerous objects. He seeks to draw the mind away from the earthly to the heavenly, that we may not waste time, talent, and opportunity, upon things that are altogether vanity.”—Ellen G. White, in The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 1, 1890.
In the world of first-century Judaism, Paul had been a rapidly rising star until, by becoming blind at the sight of the glorified Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-43), his spiritual eyesight was corrected, and he saw clearly.
John 9:1-41 tells the story of another man who was blind and then saw Jesus clearly. Jesus said He came into the world so “that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind” (John 9:39, NKJV). How might this principle be applied to your own life?
What could be more valuable than eternal life in heaven and on the new earth? Yet worldly values blind so many to this reality. There is an inherent competition between the things valued here (see Matthew 13:22; Luke 4:5-6; 1 John 2:16) and the things Heaven values—likeness to Christ and souls saved.
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The world can blind us to spiritual truths and to what is really important. What is the key to keeping our eyes focused on what truly matters? |
Paul became convinced of the centrality of Jesus in the Gospel message he preached, Granted, he became involved in some of the heavy church politics of the day but he always returned to the ”Jesus first” message.
Jumping quickly to our present spiritual lives, do we have the sort of relationship with Jesus that puts him first in our lives, or are we cerebra; Christians – good at talking about him?
I listened to an old man talking about what he thought was important. He had been a bigshot businessman and community leader. He remined us that money, power, education are transitory. The things that matter are relationships. He wasn’t giving a Christian sermon, but I resonated with what he said and would have added that my relationship with Jesus would have been central to my relationships with one another.
We need to reread the Pauline epistles, not as theological treatises, but as a reaffirmation of the relationship we have with Jesus and with one another.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).
What we value most will occupy our heart, thoughts, feelings and ultimately influence our actions, behaviour and character. This will determine who we are. Unless our value system is transformed by divine power, flesh will always determine our very being. It makes sense when Paul says, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). What we think is what we do, and what we do is what defines who we are. If we don’t think straight, we do crooked things and crooked things will show who we are. What we place value on is a true representation our heart and mind. It is no wonder the Bible gives us a solemn advice, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23, NIV).
Who can ever possibly subject his/her mind into total control without the divine power of the Holy Spirit? No amount of physical discipline can ever bring the mind into complete subjugation, but by divine power. Only by this divine authority we can be able to do what matters for heaven. Otherwise, we deceive ourselves thinking that we are in control whereas we are like a ship adrift on the ocean. Unless we surrender our lives to Him who has power to transform our values by renewing of mind, we will always be adrift spiritually.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)
Amen!
Amen Brother
Paul was zealous to protect Jewish customs, and the Law that he blindedly violated the sixth commandment that says, ” thou shall not kill” Ex. 20:13.
Can we point out, and denounce unholy zeals which exists in our lives, and in the church today?
An elder of the church once narrated seriously how he prevented a young man from walking into the church because he was putting on flip-flops AKA bathroom slippers and immediately sent him home. After the story I asked him two questions; 1. Did you at least enquire from him, the condition that made him come to church putting on flip-flops? He answered NO.
2. Did the young man return to church the following Sabbath? He answered, I didn’t see him again.
We learnt from James 2:10-13 the following:
James 2:10-13 “10. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
11. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”also said, “Do not murder.”Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Did we get the most important – the thing that matters between judgement and mercy?
There is a thin line between spiritual blindness and spiritual sight, and as Adventists, here is a call for us to assess and reassess our lives daily to make sure we are standing side by side with Jesus Christ on the path to Heaven.
Nothing else matters!!!
In Acts 9, the thing that matters is Paul’s (then Saul) dramatic conversion to Christianity! He went from persecuting Christians to becoming a follower of Christ after a life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
This encounter flipped his whole life upside down, and he became a passionate advocate for Jesus.
The things that matter most to Paul in Philippians 3 are knowing Christ and being in a relationship with Him . Everything else, including his achievements and heritage, becomes secondary to gaining Christ and being found in Him
In many ways, obedience to God’s call has come with loss status, friendships, security, and even sleep. Yet we thank God that these losses are minimal compared with the eternal reward that awaits us (Romans 8:18). The truth is, when we trust in Christ and our good works for salvation, we are not truly trusting in Christ at all (Ephesians 2:8–9). For salvation to be a reality, we must surrender everything—our good works, our religion, our morality in order to fully receive Christ. If there was ever a human being who could claim righteousness through keeping the Jewish law, it was Paul. By birth, training, and achievement, his credentials were unmatched (Philippians 3:4–6).
Yet on the road to Damascus, Paul realized that all these things were worthless for making him right with God. Paul counted all his accolades as garbage so that he might gain Christ (Philippians 3:7–8). Coming to Christ cost him everything he was disowned by family, rejected by friends, persecuted by his own people, beaten, imprisoned, and eventually killed under Emperor Nero (2 Corinthians 11:23–27). And yet, Paul never felt he had given up much. Christ was everything to him, and gaining Christ far outweighed all he had lost. No wonder Paul served with such joy (Philippians 4:4). He discovered that those who live for money, fame, or self can never be truly happy, but Christ—our ultimate treasure—can never be taken away (Colossians 3:3–4). Living for Christ, Paul found life itself (Philippians 1:21).
What is the key to keeping our eyes focused on what truly matters? To keep our eyes focused not on the problem, but on the solution: Christ! In us, there is nothing worth merit. We need to keep our hearts open to the change only the Holy Spirit can bring.
How can I stay focused on Christ in the world today? Remove the distractions. Sometimes, that is not possible. Then crowd them out with the word of God and related items. Sabbath School lesson for one keeps us on track. Keep a wholesome song in mind. Such as Not I But Christ.
The world is not only luring
us away from the truths of God. Sometimes our survival also rests on the ungodly and the worldly matters. It is a hard life for for the child of God. But, the good news is if we “trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge Him to direct our paths”. Prov. 3:5 God will provide if we trust Him to be bigger than the allurements and the temptations of this world.
The answer to todays’ question is: FAITH.
Faith is the great equalizer! It is not measured by externally established evidence, but rather the inwardly established spiritually based certainty of a believer. Though a believer might be physically unable to engage in life, he can still be filled with ‘faith able to move mountains’!
I like the expression ‘currency’ the author used when describing the ‘value’ of faith. It is the ‘gold standard’ by which the Christian’s actions are measured. Any type of ‘riches’ established by/through our own effort are vanity, though we can store up treasure in heaven when they express our faithfulness – Matt.6:19-21
So, one could say that ‘Faith is our ‘King’s currency’. It is traded in the ”commerce of Life’ and derives its ‘value’ from the heavenly Father’s Grace and Love in action. When exchanged, His Goodness is being traded – increasing faith, desire for righteousness and moral virtues, certainty and peace; all values inherent in the currency of the Kingdom of Heaven – Eph.1:3-7.
Paul didn’t lose his drive on the road to Damascus—he got a new direction.
Before meeting Jesus, Saul was passionate, disciplined, and unstoppable—but all that energy came from self-righteousness. He thought he was “serving God” by crushing anyone who got in his way.
After meeting Christ, that same intensity didn’t disappear—it flipped. The heart that once plotted harm now overflowed with love.
Without the Spirit, zeal can be dangerous. With the Spirit, your passion, ambition, and discipline get redeemed and put to work for God.
Ask yourself today: Are you using your energy to judge others—or to love like Christ?