June 12, 2015
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:4-14
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What 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 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Questions for Reflection:
Paul wants us to understand the source of our confidence in Christ. In verse 4, he begins to lay out why he could have confidence “in the flesh.” What parts of his resume is he highlighting? How does he conclude his resume in verse 6? Yet despite all of these reasons for confidence, Paul says that he considers that a loss, a miss. What is he comparing that to (verse 8)?
Paul wants to know Christ fully. In verses 12-14, he compares himself to an athlete running a race. He’s straining for the end goal. Does this seem like an appopriate illustration of the Christian life? Why or why not? How is your race going? Are you growing in Christ? If so, what is helping that happen. If not, what is holiding you back?