But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)
Know: The Apostle Paul’s burning desire was to know all he could know of the Lord Jesus Christ this side of heaven. Everything else was considered a loss to him and he had much that he lost, earthly speaking. We would do well to have that same burning desire. He had tasted a little bit and he craved much more. Because the more we know Him, the more we love Him, and the more we love Him, the more we will serve Him, and the more we serve Him the more we will experience His power indwelling within us and His smiling pleasure towards us. One never outgives God. We all live our lives for an Audience of One whether we are discerners of that truth or not.
Be: God desires for His children to be strong and courageous just as He did for all the saints of the past. He is a “with us” God whose mercies are new every morning and whose faithfulness is never sullied. We can trust Him with our lives and the lives of all we hold dear. We are not to be fearful for there is nothing “too hard” for Him. If you are a Christian be a Christian. If not, tuck tail and go forth sans the Defender.
Live: For to Paul to live was Christ and to die was gain. He was always about fruitful labor. He desired to depart and be with Christ which was better by far but it was more necessary for him to remain in the body to help others progress in their faith. Paul was caught up to paradise and herd inexpressible things that man was not permitted to tell fueling his desire to pour out his life like a drink offering for others – just as His Master had done (and ours too!). It was not about following rules for the Apostle Paul, it was about loving God and loving others. We would do well to be likeminded.
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 (NIV)