📖 STRIVE TO GAIN CHRIST

👉🏼 (Reading: Philippians 3:7-11)

📜 ""What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake l have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.""
Philippians 3:8 (NIV)

📋 ""Realizing that one's personal walk with Christ is more important than any other thing in life informs one's priority as a Christian. In our focus verse, the Apostle Paul made his stance clear on why he later considered things that had been to his profit a loss: "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

In a sense, this verse reveals Paul's heart and the essence of his Christian life. His greatest longing, according to today's passage, was to know Christ and to experience his presence and companionship more intimately.

Nothing else in Paul's life even compared to this passionate, earnest desire. Specifically everything was like worthless "rubbish" compared to knowing Christ better. In his pursuit of a deeper relationship with Christ, Paul's highest aims were to gain Christ and to be found in him, that is, identifying with Christ's character, concerns and purposes as revealed in God's Word.

Additionally, he wanted to know the power of his resurrection (v. 10), referring to the miraculous power that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11).

Always strive to gain Christ and his power.

🔑 Key Lesson: Striving to gain Christ is more rewarding.

🛐 Meditation and Prayer: Father, help me strive to gain Christ.

📚 Further Reading: Philippians 3:3-6.

◼️ The Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 6-8.