Meditation
99
The
Priceless Privilege
Philippians 3:7–8 (AMP) But whatever
former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider
as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything
as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming
preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ
Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately
acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more
fully and clearly]. For His sake, I have lost everything and consider it all to
be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the
Anointed One).
In these verses, Apostle Paul
describes everything as loss for the priceless privilege of progressively becoming more deeply and
intimately acquainted with his Lord, Jesus Christ. For Christ’s sake Paul lost
everything and considered it rubbish, useless, trash just to have the privilege
of knowing Christ.
In our materialistic, fast paced,
technological society, devoting time to seek a relationship with Jesus Christ
seems strange and meaningless to most people. Even believers that attend church
on Sunday and intend to dedicate twenty minutes a day of their busy week to
read the bible and seek Christ, seldom do because the activities of life just
get in the way.
Even though our society is more
complex than in Pauls’ day, we like Paul, choose to devote time to the
activities we consider important. The question becomes what could be more
important than knowing Christ?
Ending
Thoughts
Clearly
the Apostle
Paul had devoted his whole strength and soul to the precious privilege of
knowing Christ. As you travel on the
Narrow Path and build your relationship with Christ, the chains of importance
that bind you to worldly concerns will fall off and be replaced with a desire
to know Him.
