Philippians 3:1-21

Did you give up much when you decided to follow Christ?  Did any of those things seem like a hardship to let go off?  Paul is sharing how for him his entire life changed.  His attitude took a complete about face and with the changed and transformed heart he walked a bold and different path.  For Paul it happened quickly; probably because God had such a pressing job in store for him, one that was time-sensitive.

Paul was raised and educated with the Scriptures foremost in his teaching, but he never really got it.  He never wrapped his mind around what the Word of God was really saying to him.  That is until God got his attention in a very big way.  Has God gotten your attention in a big way?  Is your story similar at all to Paul's conversion story?  Paul is a marvelous example to those of us who might not embrace the Good News because we think we could never be forgiven, that we have been to bad to ever be able to be counted as a follower.

Then too, some of us might not want to give up our lifestyle, fearing we will never have any fun again.  After all, Christians don't have good time, do they?  Christians don't enjoy life, do they?  You are probably grinning right now, right?  It isn't easy following Christ, but it is rewarding.  For Believers, fun takes on an entirely different meaning.  Laughter comes easier, joy fills the heart and the eyes brim with real happiness.  God will work quickly in us too, for it is still extremely time sensitive.

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What 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." (Philippians 3:7-8)

Read Philippians 3:1-21 here

Listen to Philippians 3:1-21 here