That I May Know Him.

Paul tells us in Chapter 3 of Philippians to, "...put no confidence in the flesh."

He says he used to do that. He was circumcised, he was a Hebrew, he was a Pharisee, he kept the letter of the law perfectly. But he said it was all garbage. How he lived before was of no consequence. He turned his back on that life and said he, "...counted it loss."

Then he said he counted not only that life, but everything else a loss because, "...of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things..."

Paul did lose his standing in his community. He lost his friends, his job with the church, his reputation. He did this so, "...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."

What are the things of this world compared to knowing Jesus? They are like a speck of sand next to a diamond. What are we really giving up when we come to Jesus? Nothing. For all these things will pass away some day, and all that will be left is our God and our life with Him.