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Let it Go

Regardless of our age, it’s a good idea to visit a doctor every once in a while because often problems start small and progress so gradually we don’t notice them. When the doctor checks us over, he can give us some assurance that everything is fine or identify issues that we might miss.

In Philippians 3:15, Paul challenges those who are spiritually mature to use what he’s been talking about as a way to give themselves a spiritual check-up. So we’ll back up and look at the things Paul discussed in the early verses of Philippians 3 so we can use them to evaluate ourselves.

Up to the end of verse 6, Paul goes over some things about his own life that at one time were very important to him: the fact that he was a Jew, that he kept the law, he was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews and so on. These things gave Paul a significant advantage within the culture of his time and place, but in verse 7 he tells us that whatever benefit these things had given him, he now was prepare to give up for Christ.

Now when a first century Jew came to faith in Christ, all of the religiosity that went with the past was suddenly lost because in the old economy they worked for God’s approval. As a follower of Jesus, God’s approval comes by grace so all of that labour, everything that was important to them up to that point lost its advantage - spiritually, socially, and any other way.

Paul goes on to generalize a little more in verse 8 where he says that he counted “everything as loss” because of the supreme value of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. He includes more than just his religious background that set him apart, that gave him significance in his world, and gave him satisfaction within himself. He considered all things loss - a disadvantage - compared to the excellence of having a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a tough message to sell in our world because we are constantly bombarded with counter-messages that tell us our worth is in the pedigree which defines us, stuff we own, and the accomplishments we achieve. Paul’s simple statements here about the supremacy of knowing Christ presents a challenge to Christians today. It is so easy to be influenced by the words of our friends, the advertisements in the media, and the overarching shape and direction of the culture.

I need to let God speak to me through the words of Paul’s testimony: “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” May these words find an echo in my own heart.

Check up question 1: Have I let go of the stuff that would get in the way of my relationship with God?

Ron Hughes
© October 2008