SAT. 18.05.2019

Philippians 3:8 -10.


Oxygen gas (written as O₂) and carbon monoxide (written as CO) in some ways, have similar properties. They are colourless, odourless, tasteless gases and they can both bind to haemoglobin, the substance which collects, carries oxygen from our lungs and delivers it to our body’s tissues. However, oxygen and carbon dioxide are not the same, neither do they perform the same function. Whilst oxygen is the ‘fuel’ for cellular respiration (a process that leads to release of energy for use by the human body), carbon monoxide is useless and, actually, dangerous to the human body. Despite its danger to the body, CO has a higher binding capacity to haemoglobin than does oxygen (over 200 times). Thus, if both oxygen and CO are present, haemoglobin will bind and carry 200 molecules of CO before carrying 1 molecule of oxygen. The devastating effect is that if oxygen fails to get to the tissues, one may die due to lack of energy, dizziness and heart attack. This is what happens in a carbon monoxide poisoning situation, such as was unfortunately suffered by some people during the days of ‘dumsor.’This little lesson in biochemistry is just to illustrate a point Paul makes in today’s text. Paul makes the point that he decided to consider his credentials (vs 5-6) as dung in order to win and know Christ. In a sense, he paints the picture that his ability to know Christ is predicated on his decision not to allow the things he hitherto took pride in to compete for Christ’s place in his life. Paul seems to have known that those things, if entertained, could, like carbon monoxide, rapidly and completely take the place of Christ in his life, poisoning him and leading to eternal death instead of the eternal life that Christ gives. Let us also look out for all the ‘carbon monoxide-like’ things in our lives and refuse to allow them to take the place of Christ, our Oxygen, our eternal life, in our lives.

• Pray that you will recognize all the ‘carbon monoxide-like’ things in your life and do away with them or keep them in check.
• Pray that you will get to know Christ closely and deeply.

Lord Jesus, may we be able to identify all the ‘carbon monoxide-like’ things in our lives and do away with them or keep them in check and as we do so, Lord, may we get to know Christ closely and deeply. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen 🙏🏽


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