“I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8, RSV)

My wife likes to look at houses, even houses that are still under construction. Recently we were driving through a neighborhood and saw a new house that had just been framed. Since it had no doors, we wandered in for a look.

To my surprise, I found scriptures printed by hand on various studs throughout the house. Although they were soon to be covered up for decades by wallboard, the carpenter had left those scriptures as a testimony to his faith and as a blessing on that home.

What would you like to have written on the framework of your house? What about on the framework of your life? This is Paul’s statement of faith. He was willing to lose his bragging rights as a Jew in order to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. His righteou...