I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mer rubbish in order that I may win (gain) Christ (The Anointed One). Philippians 3:8 AMP
I am a New Year’s kind of gal. It is for sure one of my favorite holidays.
Certainly I love love love the entire holiday season… or “Charlie Brown Season” as we call it around here. You know, the season where there is a Charlie Brown movie to mark EVERYTHING from fall leaves to Baby Jesus. We love and watch them all on cue.
But New Year’s resonates with me deeply because of the redemption element which reminds me so much of our walks with Christ.
Yes, there is a place for fitness and food goals, but what I am most excited about is asking God, “What are WE doing in this next season?”
Friend, what plan does God have for you and me?“
That is the most important question to be asking, in my personal opinion.
Paul’s words to the Philippians has such a New Year’s vibe. But the Amplified translation sneaks a little word in there that I want you to see.
Progressive.
I don’t know about you, but this word gives me a little room to breathe.
I have been walking with Jesus for 24 years and I am STILL growing and honestly going around some of the same mountains of growth for years and years.
But here is what’s MOST important…. I am STILL growing. STILL progressively moving forward.
Paul later says, “Not that I have already attained this ideal, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
What grace and grit!
Right?
So here is my question for you. What is the invitation?
What is God inviting (or STILL inviting) you to progressively do?
How does He want you to become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him (re-read the passage, so good).
And while, January 1st feels like a good start date for new “goals” … don’t see that as a pressure to “get it all done” in 365 days. There’s just no way.
Our walks with God are just that, walks. And they have no end. They all go heavenward into eternity.
So, deep breath. Pray about this. And meditate on the entire passage below as you listen intently for His invitation to you.
But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as 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),
And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Philippians 3:7-14
Becky Crenshaw 