Verses from Philippians

然而以前对我有益的，现在因着基督的缘故，我都当作是有损的。 不但这样，我也把万事当作是有损的，因为我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。为了他，我把万事都拋弃了，看作废物，为了要得着基督。

使我认识基督和他复活的大能，并且在他所受的苦上有分，受他所受的死；(腓立比书 3:7-8, 10)

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

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Philippians 3:7-8, 10)

many of us struggle with this throughout life: Who recognizes us, and are we getting the recognition we think we deserve?

Our desire for recognition wouldn’t be such a problem if it didn’t tend to replace Jesus as the focus of our attention. But being absorbed with ourselves crowds Him out of the picture.

Life cannot be all about us and all about Jesus at the same time. This makes Paul’s statement that he counted “everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ” (Phil. 3:8 esv) strategically important. Faced with a choice between himself and Jesus, Paul intentionally discarded the things that would draw attention to himself so he could concentrate on knowing and experiencing Jesus (vv.7-8,10).

For us, the decision is the same. Will we live to draw attention to ourselves? Or will we focus on the privilege of knowing and experiencing Jesus more intimately?

Lord, 

thank You for reminding me of the

value of knowing You more intimately.

Help me to keep myself out of the way as I pursue a deeper walk with You.

Do our choices bring honor to God or to us?