WEDNESDAY January 12, 2022

Can You Count All Things Loss for Christ?

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 rubbish, that I may gain Christ....
Philippians 3:7-8

Paul continued to share his testimony with the Philippians. In the past, he thought he had it all, but all his attainments in life he now counted loss for Christ. The word loss means “worthless.” It was all rubbish. Paul decided to no longer hold on to his past, but he chose instead to live in the present and look to his future in Jesus Christ. He knew those things gained in the past were nothing compared to what was ahead of him in eternity. I love the way Paul developed his theology in suffering the loss of all things.

First, Paul established his personal relationship with Christ––my Lord. He would no longer go back to what he used to be, because he knew the grace of God had made him a child of God. Secondly, everything Paul possessed he counted loss because he had gained Jesus Christ––the most important Person in his life. That was his outlook and attitude.

For some people, the reality and pride of life are their possessions––their gain. They want to possess––possess––possess! It is so sad, because possessions can be taken away from us at any moment. When that happens, people can become very depressed.

Understand, to become a Christian is not to be preoccupied with yourself or your possessions. You freely release yourself to God. Then He can do whatever He wants with your life, money, family and possessions. Can you say, “Everything I possess belongs to God. Whatever You want, Lord, is Yours; I also count all things loss for Jesus Christ my Lord”?

Jim Elliot had this same philosophy as the Apostle Paul. As a missionary, he shared the Gospel with the Auca Indians in the jungles of Ecuador. Two weeks before he was found speared to death, he said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

Hold everything earthly with a loose hand, but grasp eternal things with a death-like grip.
~C. H Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!