"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8 ESV)

Paul's radical conversion when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus changed everything about his life. Before Christ, he was a zealous Pharisee who strictly kept the law and found his identity in being a Hebrew of Hebrews. However, when Christ entered his life, the things he used to consider as gains, he now counted as losses. He used to think that his religious credentials (see Phil. 3:4–7) gave him value in God's eyes, but after coming to Christ, he realized that really, they were simply a hindrance. Now, he considered everything worthless because of how great it is to know Jesus. He didn't depend on his own attempts to be righteous anymore but rested in the righteousness of Christ that was imputed to him by God through faith in Christ and His death and resurrection (See 2 Cor 5:21).

After he came to know Christ, all Paul wanted in his life was to know Christ more. It was his life's goal to experience deeper intimacy with Jesus and to become more like Jesus in every area of life. He was all in on Christ.

At the same time, although Paul deeply desired to know Christ more, experiencing the power of His resurrection and becoming like Him in His sufferings, Paul admitted that he wasn't perfect yet. He didn't yet have the relationship with Christ that he desired, and he wasn't as much like Jesus as he wanted to be. But resting in Christ's righteousness, he pressed on. He says in Philippians 3:12–14, "Not that I have obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

As we consider Paul's words, here are a few questions we can reflect on for ourselves:

Do you know Christ? Do you have a personal relationship with Him?
Do you really trust Him alone for salvation?
Are you all in for Christ or are you holding back?
Are you committed to the mission of Christ even when it's difficult?
Do you want more than anything to know Jesus in a deeper relationship and do you spend time striving to do so?

As you reflect on these questions, remember that just like Paul, you're not perfect yet. But trusting in Christ and forgetting the past, we press on towards the goal that's ahead, knowing that someday we will experience perfect relationship with Jesus, and He will make us completely holy when we get to our heavenly home. Christ has made us His own. He has bought us with His blood, He has risen from the dead, He has conquered our sin, and He has given us great promises about our eternal home with Him.

So press on!

Max Dalrymple
Student Ministries Director