Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ – Phil 3:8 ESV
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he speaks of two lists; a list of his spiritual credentials (2:5-6) and a list of everything else (2:8). I take the “everything else” to mean whatever can be achieved or gained in the world that could potentially blind us to our need of Christ. We have the same lists as Paul. So on the one hand, we have our lists, and on the other hand, we have Christ – just Christ. This leaves us with 3 options.
- Cling to our spiritual credentials and everything else and forget Christ.
- Take just a little bit of Jesus – enough at least for some fire insurance, or so we think.
- This is the radical one – tear up those other two lists and cling to Christ for salvation and life! That’s what Paul did. He writes, “For His sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
Christ Himself bids us to take the 3rd option. “Come unto Me.” “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Weekly Reflection
So what will we do with our lists and Christ? Paul again writes, “Indeed, I count everything as loss be- cause of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (2:8)
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