“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” Philippians 3:7-15
Paul lived and breathed and spent himself for the sake of Christ who had saved him. He was constantly on the move, by foot or mouth or pen or prayer, compelled by spiritual hunger and gospel fire. He wanted above all to know Christ and make Him known, and believed God would direct and enable that call. As long as he was on earth, he would press on and ahead for his Lord, His kingdom, and spiritual maturity. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Growing mature in the Lord does not just happen, and does not come easily. The pull of this world is persistent and strong, and requires continual resistance to withstand its force, and pressing on and upward to break its draw. God’s Spirit, greater and more potent than that of the world, directs spiritual focus and empowers godward priorities. (Romans 8:31-32; 1 John 4:4)
As long as we secure our foundation and motives in Jesus’s sake, the stress and strain of resistance and service, learning and refining, suffering and growth, are worth the gain they achieve. All is dross that is not for Him, all is loss when we consider eternal gain. The sting and friction of present hardship and trouble soften when we keep our eyes looking forward, shadows pale in the light ahead. (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
What in our lives surpasses the worth of knowing Christ? Would we count them as rubbish for the greater value of Jesus? How will we, in mindset and ambition, exchange worldly affections for the treasures of eternal glory?
Are we straining forward, pressing on, gaining Christ? How is He increasingly exhibited in our impulses, choices, words, countenance? Where has He entered and made a difference in relationships, our work, our disciplines?
How does growth measure over the years?
Do we count only in sighs and tears?
Or do we strain, and press, and groan,
For His sake, to make Christ our own,
The highest gain, King without peers. (PEB)
Lord, may I ever strain toward Your upward call, to lift You high and exalt Your worth and honor.
