The apostle Paul had a lot going for him—he was educated by the finest teachers, he had an enviable religious heritage, and he was a sought-out religious leader (i.e., lots of speaking engagements). He had many great accomplishments and was on a comfortable career track. Then he met Jesus.
The What
The passage below is from Philippians, a letter Paul wrote to a church he helped launch not long after he met Jesus. As you read the passage, note what Paul says about his past accomplishments along with anything he says about his relationship with Christ. To help you engage in the detail, you may want to print the passage and mark/highlight these things as you see them.
“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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 on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:4-14, NIV).
The So What
Have you ever done one of those exercises at the beginning of a class where you’re asked “What do you want to get out of this class?” This is similar to what Paul is doing in this passage, telling us what he wants to get out of his relationship with Christ. Take a minute to look at what you highlighted about Paul’s relationship with Jesus and make a list of all the things Paul said he wants to get out of his relationship with Christ.
Paul alludes to a couple things that might restrain his relationship with Christ. What are those things?
Now do the same thing Paul did regarding your own relationship with Christ. Write down what you want to get out of your relationship with Christ. You can use Paul’s points, but put them in your own words.
Putting into Practice
Later in chapter 3, Paul tells us to follow his example. So, let’s try it. Below are three suggestions, or three takes, for following Paul’s example in Philippians 3:4-14.
Take a Risk: What’s keeping you from experiencing all that Paul experienced? What’s standing between you and Jesus? For Paul it could have been his past accomplishments, but he declared it all rubbish—he threw it out! So, take a risk: Throw out everything you think defines you and start over…with nothing but Jesus. Walking with Jesus is that disruptive.
Take a Step: Paul uses some great action phrases to describe what he’s striving for. Think for a minute about how you can apply these actions to your relationship with Christ. And then start now!
Take Hold: The phrase “take hold” is taken directly from the passage and expresses the idea of ownership. Paul wants to “take hold” of Jesus just as Jesus had taken hold of Him. That’s a pretty tight hold. What do you need to do to tighten your grip on your relationship with Jesus? Write down two or three things you can do to show Jesus you want to take hold of Him.
