Philippians 3

I was reminded this morning again about the focus of being on Christ. I am seeing the value of memorizing Scripture. The times when we desperately need help are those times the Holy Spirit brings to our mind a verse, a passage, a phrase that meets our need. For me, this morning, full of discouragement, worry, and self focus, was one of those. The passage as Philippians 3, one that is written from the heart of Paul.

I love his words that he writes -- it is with such tenderness that they flowed from his pen onto paper. Paul writes about his credentials before knowing Christ -- and impressive they are. In today's terms, he would be a descendent of Washington, Jefferson, or Madison. He would have been educated at Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford. He would have worked under a cabinet member or a supreme court justice. He was on the fast track to being the next great Pharisee and teacher of the law -- in his own words, "a Hebrew of Hebrews". In our terms, he was on his way to being supreme court chief justice, or the next secretary of state.

But, his next statement reveals his heart towards Christ. "But whatever things were gain to me I count as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (v. 8a) How do we know this statement is true? In light of the very next thing he says… "for whom I have suffered the loss of all things." (8b) As an old man, hand perhaps trembling as this is written, eyes squinting to see in the light barely cast in his cell, Paul writes of the value of Christ, his Lord. It is personal. It is tender. It is true. It is backed by a life surrendered in the service of Christ. A life lived in that light -- the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus.

He goes on to say that those things, his family background, education, and former status -- are rubbish (I suspect 'rubbish' is the polite English translation for dung) -- in light of gaining Christ. Not only is Christ most valuable to him, but anything of gain to him belongs in the sewer -- and even more, is why a sewer exists (I threw that in). I wonder if what was brought to his mind regarding "surpassing value" was the words of Christ -- the parable of the pearl of great price -- when the finder of it sold all that he had in order to possess it (Matt. 13:44).

Now that he has gained Christ, what does Paul want? He wants to be found having a righteousness that comes by faith in Christ (v. 9), not through that which he had attained to before ("as to the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless", v.6). In light of that righteousness that comes by faith in Christ, I know him -- the power of His resurrection (and especially in Paul's case), the fellowship of His suffering (v. 10). So.. That He can one day be united with Christ (v. 11).

What does he want? "I press on to lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ." Here we find Paul's focus on the purpose of his life -- my goal is to do the very thing that Christ called me to do. I want to fulfill the purpose for which Christ called me. What a great goal. And one that took time -- we see in Galatians that Paul took three years in Arabia before beginning his ministry. I am sure that was a huge time of clarification of his purpose in preparation for this journey towards the goal.

Has Paul reached this goal at this point in his life? "Not that I have already obtained it or have become perfect" (v. 12) -- not quite yet. So what is the response? "One thing I do: I forget what lies behind and reach for what is ahead." He leaves the past behind -- the hurt, pain, and victory. What does he reach for? "I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." It is this call -- the purpose that Christ called him for -- that he presses on towards.

What is my response? "Let us therefore… have this attitude." (v. 15a) I should feel the same way. What if I disagree? "If in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you." (v. 15b). If I disagree, God will "reveal" (read: discipline) that to me. And one final exhortation -- what if I am tired? "Let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." (v 16). Don't backtrack, don't grow lax. Keep going forward, don't take a step backwards.

What is it that I am being asked to give up for the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord? I think I know the answer to this question. The answer is fear. I wonder if the current method that I am being offered is the very one I am resisting -- the path of medication. What is it that I fear about the medication? Is it the two to six weeks of adjustment when things could get bumpy, or is it the fear of what freedom might actually mean? Am I afraid of really being free? Of being able to experience freedom in a way I have tasted and enjoyed before? And this time, the taste could be sweeter, the joy more full, since it is founded in my growth of deeper walk with Christ. Am I afraid that finally, when I do not have fear to hide behind, of having to actually do that which I avoid?