What is it worth to you to know you are chosen and cherished? If you could have access to power that can help you change your life, what would you give in exchange? What if you are offered the power to love hurting people to freedom? Or experience love that protects you from people who hurt you? How is whatever you are depending on now, working for you? What is it worth?
“7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 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 9 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. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3:7-11
I have found myself, a long-time follower of Jesus, sitting with these opening questions. . . again. I find it helps to periodically review where I am, and where I am going. I’ve just come through a challenging season and I sense the need to recalibrate. These aren’t big changes, but fine tuning. I know these truths on several levels, but experiencing them consistently, especially in trials. . . . I find myself Drilling down for stability after being knocked around a bit.
In times like this I almost always come back to Philippians chapter three. The whole chapter reminds me what is most important in my life. I love how Paul continues:
“13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
We almost never truly forget our past, but we can reframe it to fit into Abba’s redemptive plan for our lives. Forgiving, releasing, blessing, and repositioning our past allows us to move forward. It also helps us to help others move forward as well. We are all called to be part of expanding the Kingdom of God.
Forgetting what lies behind enables us to focus on the prize of deeply knowing Christ. In this process we begin experiencing being deeply known. They go hand in hand because it is a relationship, not a business contract. No one can earn this relationship. It is freely given, but at the same time it costs us everything.
Verse 10 reminds us of the importance of suffering. What Christ suffered was so much more that we can truly grasp. If our faith is without suffering, we cannot relate to Christ, or to those around us.
I still don’t enjoy suffering of any kind, but as I age, I am getting better about letting it draw me in to Jesus. Paul gave up home, health, socially recognized significance, and reputation to know Christ, and to help build His Kingdom. “For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.” It was worth it for Paul.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power, for you created all things, and by your plan they were created and exist.” Revelation 4:11 TPT
Every time I wrestle with these questions and passages, I know, once again, what I will choose.
What is it worth for you?
