Philippians 3:8-14

I forfeit all in order to find my wealth in Christ.

Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.Philippians 3:8-14

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8 More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and (the) sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death,11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.12 It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ (Jesus).13 Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead,14 I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of Gods upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

Paul is considering his past life and he views it as worthless compared to knowing Christ.He recognized that a persons relationship with Christ is more important than anything else.The closer we are to Christ the more you consistently model his behaviors of love, patience, charity and mercy.Paul had given up everything in order to follow and bring others to Christ.When you consider Pauls efforts to spread the word of God they were monumental in human terms.People tried to kill him, he was beaten, imprisoned and eventually beheaded, yet all these earthly sufferings were nothing compared to what Paul believed awaited him in heaven.Do you recall how you felt when you fell in love?

You did your best to spend as much time as you could with the one that you loved.The person was constantly on your mind, you became infatuated and eventually fell in to a long lasting love so intense that you were willing to give up your life for that person.Sounds like the love that Christ has for us doesnt it?Sounds like the relationship Paul is seeking with Christ doesnt it?

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