Ichthus Ministries Daily Devotions — Eggs in a Basket

Eggs in a Basket

Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the Law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

— Philippians 3:4-14

The older I get, the more I realize just how much I am betting on Jesus. To use the old proverb, I am putting all my eggs in His basket—and I'm starting to see just how important that is. The stakes are getting higher. Oh, I loved and trusted Jesus when I was younger, too; but now I am starting to see friends and family die, some of them younger than myself. I am becoming more and more disabled myself. I am watching my son grow up and move out into a world that seems more and more dangerous. As things become darker, it's clear that where I put my trust is important. Which basket will protect these precious eggs of mine?

Paul had a lot of baskets to choose from—his ancestry among the "chosen people" of God; his religious zeal; his top-level education; his clean conscience. And Paul could have done what a lot of us do—put one or two eggs in each basket, just to minimize the loss if one basket happens to drop. But he didn't. He put all his eggs in Jesus' basket—he bet everything on Jesus—he leaned all his weight on Jesus, holding nothing back, and trusted Jesus not to let him fall. That's the sign either of an idiot or of a very, very confident believer.

You, too, may have many baskets to choose from. Do you have wealth? That's a basket. What about exercise and healthy eating? That's another. Then there are things like friends and family, education, good government, hard work, and savings—baskets, baskets, baskets!

Against all of these, Paul urges us to put our eggs in Jesus' basket. Not that the other things aren't good—but they aren't eternal, everlasting, utterly trustworthy. Only Jesus is that. Only Jesus loves you enough to lay down His own life for you—to hang on a cross for you—to rise from the dead for you, and promise to share His everlasting life with you. Only Jesus will see you through whatever comes, no matter how deep the darkness, no matter how strong the storm. Because He is your Savior.

Lord Jesus, help me cling to You—all my eggs in Your basket—because You are holding on to me in love. Amen.

Dr. Kari Vo

Reflection Questions:

1. What "baskets" do you have to choose from?

2. Where are you most tempted to place your trust?

3. How can you tell what you're really trusting in?

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
The older I get, the more I realize just how much I am betting on Jesus.