But What Things Were Gain

‬‭Philippians 3:7-11‬ ‭- But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

What is anyone willing to give up for Christ? What does it even mean? 

As believers we are called to give up the old life for a new one, the old beliefs for new beliefs, a mind filled with man's lies to a mind filled with His truth, and more.

It's a lot to consider. It's not always easy. We are naturally stubborn and prideful. We want it our way and we want it now. It's all about us. What does God have to do with anything? 

God certainly has a lot to do with it. He created. Period. He. He put things into motion. He knit us together in our mothers' wombs. If we aren't praising Him for everything in our lives, but attributing things to our own abilities and/or strengths, He's not in our picture. He's the one who created and gave. 

So, it is vital to know God, to know His Son. It's vital to know Him while we still have the time...today...now. He's the only one who will bring us life, in this world and in death. It is important to know what He says about life. It is important for knowledge and true wisdom, not man's, not our own. We lose to gain, which is NOT an easy thing to understand. We give up our own ideas FOR HIS. We look at our lives and life in general THROUGH HIS EYES. Not our good works but HIS THROUGH US. Not our strength or power but HIS IN US. Are we willing to count loss our achievements for the sake of knowing the One who created? It's a big decision but a life changing one. It's never been said to be easy, but worth it. Can't imagine going through a trial in life without Him. It could be He's all we have. Can you say you absolutely know this? In the end this knowledge is vital. 

I was listening and worshipping this morning to Christian music. Michael Card to be exact. This blog was written a couple days ago. When I heard the song it spoke about all we give up and how freeing it can be. 

'Cause when we say 'no' to the things of the world we open our hearts to the love of the Lord...and its hard to imagine the freedom we find from the things we leave behind.
(The Things We Leave Behind) 

The song illustrated how when Simon (Peter) was called by Jesus, he left his fishing boat and nets behind. Another illustration was Matthew the greedy tax collector and how his greed faded away after choosing to follow the Lord. 

We change. We do give up the old life for a new one, the old beliefs for new beliefs, a mind filled with man's lies to a mind filled with His truth.

It is hard to imagine how it all happens. Like my friend's husband who recently passed (I Will Bring You Peace). When his heart was again touched by Jesus, he passed peacefully. The heaviness in his heart was gone, reconciliations occurred. 

Better to know the Lord now and know this peace through all circumstances of life. The world has nothing to offer of any eternal consequence. If we know Christ we have it all. If we can wrap our minds around losing to gain we have it made. 

Jeremiah‬ ‭9:23-24‬ - Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.