The Greatness of Knowing Christ
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:8
As a Pharisee Paul had the good life, but considers his loss as garbage, as compared to knowing Christ. Paul had a close loving relationship with Christ and totally depended on him for everything. God is not a respecter of persons, which means what God did for Paul, he will do for us.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) From this verse, we know Paul strived to live totally by the will of Christ, and to overcome his own will. Satan seeks to keep Christians from completely surrendering their own will, but if we pray to live in Christ’s will, and we strive to live in his will; it will happen.
When we totally surrender our will to Christ, we will experience life to the full; because we have a close loving relationship with Christ. When we read the words of Christ and focus deeply, and realize his words come from his heart, we will get a deeper understanding. And the more we serve the Lord, the more we experience his divine guidance, then the more we experience his blessings and love.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. (1 John 4:7) It’s a heart of love that enables to have a deeper understanding of the Father and the Son, and of the Word. A heart of love is our connection to the Lord, and love motivates us to bring Christ to others. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. This is the greatest command, because it opens our heart to God, his Word, and to people; with full dependency on Christ.
Today serve Christ, bringing people to Christ, through personnel contact and prayer, and pray every day for more of God’s love in your heart.
Prayer: Lord guide me to be light in this world, and fill my heart with unconditional, sacrificial, divine love. In Jesus name, Amen