Jesus Is Worth Everything
Pastor Lee Cummings
October 18, 2026 Message Recap
Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus when a light from heaven knocked him to the ground.
Up until that moment, he had every reason to feel confident in the life he was building. He had the education, the reputation, and the religious résumé. He knew the law and worked hard to keep it. By every measure he cared about, he was doing everything right.
Then he met Jesus.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
Imagine realizing that everything you had worked so hard for had been taking you in the wrong direction. Saul was so sure he was serving God, and yet he had completely missed Him.
Years later, Paul looked back at everything he once took pride in and called it loss. What had changed? He had found something worth more.
We were never made to find our satisfaction in accomplishments. We were created through Jesus and for Jesus. No amount of success, recognition, or influence can satisfy the part of us that was made for Him. As John Piper puts it, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
But we can become so familiar with Jesus that we stop seeing how beautiful He is. We know the stories. We know the right words. We know He forgives our sins and gives us the hope of heaven. But do we want Him, or do we just want what He can do for us?
It’s easy to make room for Jesus as long as following Him doesn’t interfere with our plans. We want salvation, but we still want control over our money, our relationships, our careers, and our dreams.
Jesus doesn’t want part-time custody of our lives. He gave everything for us, and He’s asking us to trust Him with everything we have.
That can sound like a lot to lose until we see what we’re being offered.
Jesus told a story about a man who found treasure in a field. In his joy, he sold everything he owned to buy it. Another man found a pearl so valuable that he sold everything to have it.
Neither one had to be talked into it. They saw the value of what was in front of them and gladly let go of everything else.
That’s what happened to Paul. Knowing Jesus became worth more to him than everything he had spent his life trying to gain.
Maybe we don’t need more information, but to see Jesus again—to know Him so deeply that we can trust Him with whatever He asks us to surrender.
What are you still holding on to?
Scripture References:
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About Radiant Church
Founded in 1996, Radiant Church has grown into a multi-location church committed to biblical teaching, discipleship, and mission.
At Radiant Church, there is an invitation to grow in your spiritual journey, build meaningful community, and truly get connected. We are passionate about helping people grow in faith, encounter the Presence of God, and become part of a church grounded in Spirit and truth.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: Confidence in the Flesh
Philippians 3:4–6 | Jeremiah 9:23–24
Paul's résumé was flawless by the standards of his world: the right family, the right tribe, the right training, and a spotless religious record. Jeremiah warned long before that the wise shouldn't boast in wisdom, nor the strong in strength, nor the rich in riches. The only thing worth boasting in is knowing the Lord. Whatever we lean on for confidence, Scripture invites us to hold it loosely next to Him.
Day 2: The Light on the Road
Acts 9:3–5 | 2 Corinthians 4:6
Saul was on his way to arrest Christians when a light from heaven stopped him cold, and a voice said, "I am Jesus." In that moment, everything he had built his life on collapsed. Paul later wrote that the same God who commanded light to shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of His glory in the face of Christ. Once you see that face, nothing else looks the same.
Day 3: The One Thing Lacking
Luke 18:22–23 | Matthew 6:19–21
A rich ruler had kept every commandment, yet Jesus told him he still lacked one thing: sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Me. The man walked away sorrowful despite his great wealth. Jesus said our hearts follow our treasure. The question isn't how much we've done for God, but whether anything remains in reserve.
Day 4: The Treasure and the Pearl
Matthew 13:44–46 | Philippians 3:8
In two short parables, Jesus describes people who discover something so valuable that they gladly sell everything to have it. The point isn't the size of the sacrifice. It's the worth of what they found. Paul says the same thing in his own words: he counts everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
Day 5: Pressing On
Philippians 3:12–14 | 2 Timothy 4:7–8
Paul didn't claim to have arrived. He wrote that he was forgetting what lay behind and pressing toward the prize of God's upward call in Christ. Near the end of his life, he could say he had fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. A life lived with no reserve and no retreat is a life that ends with no regrets.