KNOW HIM (TO TRULY FOLLOW HIM)
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8
The most important fact of your identity as a Christian is not how you follow Jesus in a particular position of service, calling, or act of mission, but how well you know the Christ you follow. The way you live as a follower of Jesus should demonstrate God’s work in you more than simply your work in the task. Please understand that pursuing excellence in your work for Jesus is indeed a worthy goal, whether that be in the home or in a field of mission and ministry. But our lives as followers of Jesus should first and foremost reflect our “knowing Him” personally as Savior and Lord.
This is the heart and motivation behind Paul’s statement, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ my Lord.” Paul reflected on the specifics of his personal religious ancestry of Hebraism and scholarly accomplishments of Judaism and counted them “loss.” His particulars listed in Philippians 3:5-6 (circumcision, the heritage of the tribe of Benjamin, the office of Pharisee) gave reason for boasting in self, but were quickly thrown out compared to knowing Jesus. In Philippians 3:7, Paul concluded that these things are counted as loss for the sake of Christ. But then Paul’s resolve intensified as he stated in verse 8, “I count all things as loss” compared to the value of knowing Jesus. That which Paul once pursed as excellence in life became nothing in exchange for pursuing the excellence of knowing Jesus Christ. The term, “loss”, becomes more intense in the second half of verse 8: Paul placed all things he referred to as loss in the category of rubbish or garbage. The actual terminology is a bit more descriptive and would likely express the idea of dung or dregs. The idea is of considering something as the most worthless part. And Paul reached out into every category of his life and viewed everything like dung or dregs compared to the value of knowing Jesus. All things that would compete with His love for Jesus became categorized as contemptable in the highest degree.
Now that the idea of Paul’s shift in value is very clear, what becomes of “knowing Jesus”? The phrase, “that I may gain Christ” gives clarity to this passion for Jesus. The gain represented the pursuit of what is best, while all other things were labeled as loss. Paul’s desire to “gain Christ,” identified His love for Jesus as His most significant pursuit every moment of every day. A true personal knowledge and encounter with Jesus truly changes a person. And Paul knew the love of Christ, the joy of forgiveness, the call of faith, and the sure righteousness that can only come from faith in God’s work of salvation through the cross of Jesus. Paul knew this well. And this was the chief identifier of His life. His office as an apostle, his fervor as a preacher of the gospel, and his tireless vision as missionary and church planter all came from within His love for our Lord. He did not serve in order to demonstrate a love for Christ. His love for Jesus came first. And this love became the motivation and purpose for how he served. And his love for Jesus was clearly apparent because of His desire to know Christ.
An example of such a personal passion of the heart comes from Psalm 63:1,
“You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.”
Today, push back from the busy pursuits of “doing” and take time to know Jesus more. This is a simple yet very challenging pursuit. But begin now, at this moment. Follow the expressed example of devotion revealed by the psalmist, and truly seek after Jesus in the private moments of your life. Thirst for Him. Make certain your time reading the Bible has but one focus – to know Christ more. Make certain your prayer time has but one chief aim – to seek Jesus more, and to pursue Him. Make certain all your endeavors, as good and as beneficial as your pursuits may be, becomes small compared to the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. You are called to Him more than called to a place or a task. Today, let’s make “living for Jesus” very personal.
Blessings.
READ
Read Philippians 3:1-14 and be revitalized in your pursuit of knowing Jesus.
