4 Things You Gain When You Lose It All

There's always a loss.  And when you have it all ... the loss is great.

Paul had it all.  Power, prestige, position ... He had it all.

He was the glory boy, and he was still climbing.  Until ...

Through a face-to-face Jesus encounter, God rocked his world.  His glory days were over.  Think of all he lost.  Think of how many people must have thought he was crazy.  Think of the whispers, the rumors, the speculation.

He was the darling of the Phariseeical Religious Right and now he's gone left.  Way left.  But look at what he says.

... whatever gain I had,

I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

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 and be found in him,

not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,

but that which comes through faith in Christ,

the righteousness from God that depends on faith --

Philippians 3:7-9

He lost it all.  All the power, all the glory.  He lost the limousine, the fan club, the second house at the beach, the third house in the mountains ... He lost it all.

His glory days were over.  But really, they were just beginning.

Here's what Paul gained when he lost it all.  
  
1. Purpose

Everything in his life became for the sake of Jesus.  His life was centered on Jesus, his purposes, his love, his advancing Kingdom.  In all the activity of your life,  are you centered on Jesus?

2. Perspective

His eyes were opened and he saw the treasures of this world for what they really are.  Compared to Jesus, it was all garbage.  Do you value Jesus about everything else this world offers?

3. Confidence

His confidence was no longer in what he did, but in whose he was.  He "became found in Jesus."  Now, rather than rabidly working to claim righteousness through works, he rested in Christ.  By faith, Jesus' righteousness was his.  Are you confident in Christ?   

4. Jesus

He got Jesus.  Above all, he got Jesus.  Not just in a head knowledge, religious way, but personally.  Intimately.  The King of kings became his friend, his confidant, his leader, his brother.  He got Jesus.  Do you have Jesus?

I'm not going to lie to you.  There is cost for following Jesus.  It's real.  It's intense, but it is so worth it. The gain is real.  

For you, what is the greatest gain in following Christ?  Would you share your answer by leaving a comment?  

Thanks for joining us Riverside!  If you have questions about following Jesus, or just want to send me a  personal email,  I'd love to hear from you.  My email address is cynthiafin@gmail.com.  And if you'd like to be sure that Riverside lands in your inbox each day, subscribe by putting your email address in the little box up-and-to-the-right.  Thanks so much!