Losing Oneself
Philippians 3:12-21
12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. 17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
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As I write this, I am weary and dejected, without vision or energy, or even hope.
As I read Paul’s letter, I am inspired – and even more dejected. By my own weary faith.
Recently, I have developed a great deal of respect for the apostle Paul. I am completely in awe of the man that he became, dazzled by the transformation that took place in his life. From persecutor of the church to a slave of Jesus Christ; from an enemy of the cross to one who counted all things “rubbish” in order to gain Christ; from self-righteous zealot to Christ-righteous debtor to all; from Saul, who watched Stephen die and probably encouraged his stoning, to one who could write to the Philippians from his prison cell: “I will continue to rejoice…for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
How did that happen?
Read the letter to the Philippians in its entirety and it will astound you. If you don’t know Jesus Christ, Paul sounds like he has lost his mind. Quite frankly, he may not even make sense to a believer – unless that believer is able to say with Paul, “But, whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”
This is the example he wants us to imitate: devotion to Christ at all cost.
So, Paul has lost his mind, right? Wrong.
He has lost his heart. To Christ.
Anyone who has lost his or her heart to someone knows that when you do, you start to do and say things that are completely foolish for the sake of that one, incomparable person, who dominates your thoughts and drives your actions.
For Paul that person is Christ. Once he loses his heart, his whole being follows. He loses himself to Jesus. And, so for him, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Notice that Paul’s devotion to Christ exists “because Christ Jesus has made [him] his own.” It is in response to what Christ initiates. This is why he presses on to the goal, which is “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (verses 10, 11)
I marvel at Paul’s wholehearted devotion to Jesus Christ, and his ability to rejoice and be hopeful in prison. But, I despair of ever being able to imitate him. Here I am, as I said, weary, without energy, hope or vision. I just don’t have it in me right now to imitate Paul. I feel utterly incapable of doing so.
So, I despaired when I first read this. And, then I noticed that Paul points to the source of his ability: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.”
Did you hear that? He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory! That is quite a transformation! Way beyond our ability or our imagination.
See, doing the “one thing” -- living the Christian life as exemplified by Paul -- is not dependent on our ability or strength. It depends on a Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who will transform our present humiliation and conform it to His glory – here’s how – by the power that enables him to make all things subject to himself!
That’s Almighty power! And it will take Almighty power for that kind of transformation.
So weary and dejected souls (such as my own) should look heavenward to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul did. He alone has the power to save us and to transform things from humiliation to glory. And He does. Paul knew this from personal experience. And knowing Jesus like that, well…
He lost himself for Christ’s sake. He knew it was worth it.
Ah, to know our Savior like that!
--------------------------
Dear Lord,
Help me – as you helped Paul – press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. I cannot on my own. I want to know you as Paul did. So that I can say with him, “I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Thank you that You have made me Your own. Such a truth is too marvelous to grasp! Let me now, by your power, be transformed to the person that you would have me be. Let me imitate Paul in losing myself in You, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
In Your incomparable Name, I pray.
Amen.
12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. 17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
----------------------
As I write this, I am weary and dejected, without vision or energy, or even hope.
As I read Paul’s letter, I am inspired – and even more dejected. By my own weary faith.
Recently, I have developed a great deal of respect for the apostle Paul. I am completely in awe of the man that he became, dazzled by the transformation that took place in his life. From persecutor of the church to a slave of Jesus Christ; from an enemy of the cross to one who counted all things “rubbish” in order to gain Christ; from self-righteous zealot to Christ-righteous debtor to all; from Saul, who watched Stephen die and probably encouraged his stoning, to one who could write to the Philippians from his prison cell: “I will continue to rejoice…for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
How did that happen?
Read the letter to the Philippians in its entirety and it will astound you. If you don’t know Jesus Christ, Paul sounds like he has lost his mind. Quite frankly, he may not even make sense to a believer – unless that believer is able to say with Paul, “But, whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”
This is the example he wants us to imitate: devotion to Christ at all cost.
So, Paul has lost his mind, right? Wrong.
He has lost his heart. To Christ.
Anyone who has lost his or her heart to someone knows that when you do, you start to do and say things that are completely foolish for the sake of that one, incomparable person, who dominates your thoughts and drives your actions.
For Paul that person is Christ. Once he loses his heart, his whole being follows. He loses himself to Jesus. And, so for him, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Notice that Paul’s devotion to Christ exists “because Christ Jesus has made [him] his own.” It is in response to what Christ initiates. This is why he presses on to the goal, which is “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (verses 10, 11)
I marvel at Paul’s wholehearted devotion to Jesus Christ, and his ability to rejoice and be hopeful in prison. But, I despair of ever being able to imitate him. Here I am, as I said, weary, without energy, hope or vision. I just don’t have it in me right now to imitate Paul. I feel utterly incapable of doing so.
So, I despaired when I first read this. And, then I noticed that Paul points to the source of his ability: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.”
Did you hear that? He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory! That is quite a transformation! Way beyond our ability or our imagination.
See, doing the “one thing” -- living the Christian life as exemplified by Paul -- is not dependent on our ability or strength. It depends on a Savior – the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He who will transform our present humiliation and conform it to His glory – here’s how – by the power that enables him to make all things subject to himself!
That’s Almighty power! And it will take Almighty power for that kind of transformation.
So weary and dejected souls (such as my own) should look heavenward to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul did. He alone has the power to save us and to transform things from humiliation to glory. And He does. Paul knew this from personal experience. And knowing Jesus like that, well…
He lost himself for Christ’s sake. He knew it was worth it.
Ah, to know our Savior like that!
--------------------------
Dear Lord,
Help me – as you helped Paul – press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. I cannot on my own. I want to know you as Paul did. So that I can say with him, “I consider everything loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Thank you that You have made me Your own. Such a truth is too marvelous to grasp! Let me now, by your power, be transformed to the person that you would have me be. Let me imitate Paul in losing myself in You, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
In Your incomparable Name, I pray.
Amen.
posted by Ruth at 7:55 AM
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