PHP 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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. 10 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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
PHP 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
PHP 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Last year our youth department did a series taken from the Versus Sports Channel using the same artwork but entitled, Verses. The series focused upon our various life verses and this passage was one of them. More than a life verse, Philippians Chapter Three is literally my life's mission. More than any other section of scripture in the Bible these ten verses embody my heart for life.
In verse 8, Paul says, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” You see, it wasn’t a fear of Hell that brought me to Christ as a young man. It wasn’t losing an argument about God and salvation either. It was simply because the concept of having a personal relationship with my Creator inspired me to give my life to Him. I hate religion. Religion is a barrier between God and man. I have spent all of my adult ministry admonishing people away from life-wrecking religion towards a life-changing relationship that comes from knowing our Creator. The word Paul uses for “knowing (8)” is the Greek word ginosko. It is the most intimate of relationship words and is often used to describe the sexual intimacy of married couples. It is the most intimate of relational words, and an expression of how God wants us to know Him, deeply, just as He already knows us.
In verse 8 Paul continues to say that no matter how many wins he has on his resume, all is utter defeat compared to his relationship with Christ. No trophy, no pay raise, no material possession, or worldly accomplishment can compare to his relationship with Christ. “More than that”all these so-called wins are rubbish (8); skubala, compared to knowing Christ. Skubala is the Greek word for human feces, waste sewage-you get the point.
Lastly, Paul does not want to revel in life’s apparent wins, but to focus all his efforts, energy and pursuits on the greatest trophy of all; “I want to know Christ (10)”. In verses 13-14 Paul continues to position himself by, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.. Here we come to another Greek word Paul used to “press on”-the word dioko.
This single Greek verb has literally changed my life.
This is a word with two pictures for us to view on the flat screen of our minds. The first is that on a man in a race chasing after a leading runner. With more velocity behind it for greater impact on my life the second picture is that of a hunter pursuing or stalking his game.
What! A hunting word for how we are to seek after our God? I am all in baby!
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13)”.
Life is a great hunt for God. I have committed my life to hunt the greatest Trophy of all- my God and my King. Men pursue many futile dreams in life, but the only worthy prize, the only true trophy, is a man’s pursuit of knowing his Creator. Man has literally been created as a God-hunter. Man has been empowered with a passion for his Creator and the godly man has been empowered with the Spirit of Jesus that keeps us on the scent of our Trophy for a lifetime.
