Last week, I published a post entitled, "Spiritually-Minded Christians." In Philippians 3:4-6, the apostle lists those things that at one time in his life, he considered marked him as a deeply spiritual servant of God. You can see that list here, along with what I consider to be modern-day counterparts.
Today, I want to continue with what Paul says in the verses following his list because this is where I believe we find the true measure of a spiritually-minded Christian.
In verse 8, he references those things he once thought of as the marks of his spirituality, saying this about them - "I now consider them garbage or dog dung."
Let that sink in a moment. And if you haven't done it yet, I want to encourage you, once again, to take the time to go back and review the modern-day counterparts in my first post.
Really? Garbage, or as some translations say dog dung?
Paul continues, "I have lost all those things for the sake of Christ Jesus, my Lord."
Why Paul? Why do you consider those things as losses?
"So that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own, but a righteousness before God that comes by simply trusting my life to Jesus."
Paul is saying, "These are not the things that I focus on now. No, only one thing matters to me now, and that is to know Christ."
If Paul were writing today, he would say something like this - "baptism, church membership, knowledge of the Scriptures, doctrinal exactness; these things are no longer my focus."
I don't believe he's saying they don't matter, as much as I think he's saying, "I don't base my spirituality and commitment to God on them."
But the fact is we can be "super-Christians" when it comes to all these things and still be lacking in a growing, intimate relationship with Jesus.
That's why he continues, saying, "To know Christ" is what ultimately matters when it comes to the depth of our spirituality and commitment to God and His Kingdom.
And then, he describes what comes with knowing Christ. Take a look at some of these things with me -
"To know the power of his resurrection."
That is, to experience the new life that comes through a relationship with Jesus. To be changed. The old has passed away; the new has come. I'm not the same person I was before I began following Jesus. And I'm still changing, growing, and becoming the person God created me to be. As I look back over my life, I see changes in my attitudes, behavior, and lifestyle patterns. I'm continually experiencing the power of His resurrection.
"To participate in his sufferings."
"Just as Jesus suffered rejection by his own people," Paul says, "I've been misunderstood and rejected by friends and family, and sadly, other Christians. Just as Jesus rejected the Devil's offer of the world, I've said, "no' to worldly ways and opportunities that would have kept me from becoming the person God is calling me to be."
"Becoming like him in his death."
"I will not back off or compromise my service and commitment to God regardless of the price I must pay, even if it means my life."
"And so, somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead."
"I cannot explain the mystery of the promise of the resurrection and the afterlife, but I know that when my life on earth is done, I will experience another life in another realm, and it will be good!"
In light of these two posts, this one and the one last Thursday, I want to ask you a question. How are you measuring your spirituality and commitment to Christ?
We should never forget that it's not what we know but who we know. It's about the intimacy of our relationship with God through Jesus. It's about our passion for being and becoming the person Christ Jesus is calling us to be.
Thanks for reading.
In Christ,
Dan
Check out my podcasts from Church on the Edge and my books on Kindle.
You can listen to my weekly messages at Embrace Church, High Point.
For me Spirituality is not the search for religious peak experiences, furthermore the daily „labour“ and search for the Kingdom of God and the search for God himself (Matth 6:33) - how to find His will and get (or remain) close to him is the goal. Spirituality is and ongoing education for my soul. It is dynamic - there is up and down, light and darkness, sound and silence, closeness and distance.
Or as Steve Jobs once said: „Stay hungry! Stay foolish“ your might find corresponding bible verse for that.