For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, Philippians 3:8-9 NABRE
Paul is a faithful Jew, a Pharisee, a religious leader in the temple. With the formation of something called “the way” Paul wants to keep Judaism pure and relentlessly pursues them till elimination. On his way to Damascus he meets Christ. He is asked the question; “Paul why are you persecuting me?” It changes Paul’s thinking and understanding. Paul goes off for a while to pray and understand what has happened, he likely encounters Christ more deeply. Paul has gone much deeper than belief, he says he “knows” Christ. There is a difference between knowing about Christ and knowing Christ directly. Paul knows Christ is the Messiah who fulfills Scripture and is Lord of all. Paul’s experience of Christ has led to a heartfelt love that now transcends even the passionate engagement with God that he knew as a Jew, in his relentless service of the people of Israel as a Pharisee. For Paul everything else is devalued, he calls it all rubbish, closer thinking would be dung or crap. He doesn’t consider that he has lost anything but that he has found something so much more significant all has more value. Paul has found Christ, and can be found in Him. In baptism he has joined with Christ, but it is so much more, Paul believes in being part of the Body of Christ, a communion of believers who are united, all one in the one who is all.
For Paul knowing Christ is the supreme good, which is more than all of life not knowing Christ. No matter what joy we have in life, in Christ it is exponentially more joyful, it is the difference between life lived in black and white or 4K HD color. Know Christ, and live in gain.
Do you believe in Christ or know Christ? What is life without Christ?
Paul believes in being part of the Body of Christ, a communion of believers who are united, all one in the one who is all. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #know #Christ #Paul #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways