As the NBA Trade Deadline quickly approaches, Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans is the most intriguing player who might get dealt. Indicating he no longer wants to play for the Pelicans, any team would love to have such an elite talent in the prime of his career.

The Los Angeles Lakers seem to be the most eager team to trade for his services and he appears to be interested. Since they already have LeBron James and want to win now, Davis would help make that happen.

For the past few years, the Lakers have been compiling draft picks and young players on their roster, so they face the big decision of who they give up in order to trade for Davis.

Is it worth letting go of every valuable asset in order to acquire Davis? Should a trade include Kuzma, Ingram, Ball, and Hart? How many draft picks should they give up?

The Lakers have built their team with these players and they don’t want to give them up too easily, but they most likely want Davis more.

Although some offers have already leaked out, an agreement hasn’t been made because the Pelicans are reportedly asking for everything – including six to eight draft picks and each of the Lakers top young players. As much as the Lakers want Anthony Davis, they don’t want to give up too much.

I’m fascinated to see what happens at the trade deadline tomorrow, but I think any of their current young players or draft picks pale in comparison to adding one of the best players in the NBA. Giving up whatever it takes to get Davis in a Lakers uniform is totally worth it when thinking about LeBron and Davis on the same team!

In a similar way, each of us places value on our own assets and probably consider our efforts and accomplishments as worthy of hanging on to. Even when we know something better is available to us, don’t we tend to cling to what we’ve been previously building our lives on?

The apostle Paul writes about his amazing religious standing in the eyes of the law, and how his perspective changed once Jesus changed his life.

Philippians 3:8-9 (NLT) says, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him.

“I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.”

Wow, everything on our “roster” or “resume” is garbage when you compare it to “the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus!”

Today, just like the Lakers need to let go of their assets so they can gain Davis, let’s be encouraged to realize what we have available to us in Jesus. Let’s not get caught up in our own religious efforts or worldly pursuits, but trade all of that in order to gain the fullness of Jesus.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that nothing I’ve done or possess can compare to what I have in Jesus. I rest in Him and the grace and love that’s available to me. I want to continue to know Jesus in a deeper way. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.