Dung or Fertilizer
Friday, January 5
Philippians 3:8 (KJV)
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
Devotion
Dung is smelly animal waste that carries germs and stains what it touches. It transfers its stink and stain to you if you step in it or get it on you.
Today’s verse is often taught from the perspective that the value of a relationship with God is worth so much more than any personal cost or challenge of being a Jesus follower that these are dung by comparison. There is also another perspective suggested by Paul’s use of the word “dung” to describe these hardships.
Under the management of a farmer, dung, or manure, can also be fertilizer. It may be worked into the soil around a plant in a process called mulching to make it fruitful. Paul yielded to the work of Jesus in his life and was faithful through his sufferings. Then, he could testify from experience to great promises, such as we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, that there is peace that surpasses understanding and that it guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4).
The parable of the fig tree (Matthew 13:6-9) suggests there is a process as well as a timeline for accountability for fruitfulness. Godly character and spiritual fruitfulness is achieved by the work of God in us and also requires our cooperation with His “mulching” of our lives. We need to both ask and allow God to use our hardships to develop our character, rather than giving in to despair or resisting His work and becoming bitter. We can lay hold of the promise that, in Jesus, suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-5). We are further promised that this hope is realized as we are filled with the love of God through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You that Your ways and Your thoughts are higher than mine, and even when I don’t understand the process, You have a plan for me that is greater than I can even hope or imagine. Train me according to Your Word as I press on by reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on it. I ask that You prune away all that should not be in my life, equip me to overcome my sinful nature, and instruct me that I may be one with You. Make me fertile ground that I may bear fruit for Your Kingdom. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Apply It Today
In what areas of your life do you need to become fertile ground? What needs to be pruned from your life? Focus on one area, study what the Word says concerning it, spend intimate time with God and ask Him to prune you and give you His wisdom and strength daily, hourly, or minute by minute. Journal your progress. Once you see progress, continue working on that area and add another. Be sure to thank God for helping you to bear His fruit.
Resources:
- Discover great strength in your season of weakness, as you listen to, “What To Do When You Are Weak”.
- Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 and be inspired by how the Apostle Paul found strength in the Lord.