Knowing_Jesus_Philippians_3.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Letting Go of Spiritual Scorecards

It is easy to measure our worth by what we have accomplished, even in our spiritual lives. We may look to our religious activities, our background, or our good deeds as proof that we are “doing well” with God. But this mindset is a trap—it leads us to pride when we succeed and to shame when we fall short. Paul’s life shows us that even the most impressive spiritual resume is empty if it becomes the foundation of our identity.
Instead, God invites us to lay down our spiritual scorecards and rest in the truth that our value is not in what we have done, but in who Christ is and what He has done for us. When we stop striving to prove ourselves, we are free to receive God’s love and grace as a gift, not as a reward for our performance.

“For not he who commends himself is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10:18, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area where you tend to measure your spiritual worth by your achievements or religious activity? How can you intentionally lay down that “scorecard” before God today?

Day 2: Anchoring Joy in Christ’s Unchanging Love

True joy is not found in our circumstances or our own performance, but in the unshakeable love of Christ. Paul calls us to “rejoice in the Lord,” not as a shallow encouragement, but as a deep invitation to root our happiness in something that cannot be taken away. When our joy is anchored in Christ, we are no longer tossed about by the ups and downs of life or the need to compare ourselves to others.
This kind of joy is a safeguard for our souls. It protects us from the pride that comes from self-reliance and the insecurity that comes from self-doubt. As we learn to rejoice in the Lord, we discover a freedom and peace that the world cannot offer—a joy that endures through every season.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: When you notice your joy fading, what are you usually focusing on? What is one practical way you can shift your focus to Christ’s love for you today?

Day 3: Treasuring Christ Above All Else

Paul’s words remind us that knowing Jesus is of surpassing worth—far greater than any status, achievement, or possession we could ever gain. This is not just a belief to agree with, but a reality that reorders our hearts and priorities. The things we once treasured—success, approval, comfort—become small in comparison to the joy of knowing Christ personally and deeply.
This relationship with Jesus is not abstract or distant. It is a living, daily experience that changes what we value and how we live. As we grow in knowing Him, we find that the things we once clung to lose their grip on us, and our hearts are set free to pursue what truly matters.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing you have been treasuring more than Christ lately? What would it look like to count it as loss for the sake of knowing Him more?

Day 4: Receiving Righteousness as a Gift

The good news of the gospel is that righteousness is not something we achieve, but something we receive. Paul makes it clear that our standing before God is not based on our efforts, but on faith in Christ. This truth humbles us, because it means we cannot earn God’s approval, and it liberates us, because we do not have to live under the pressure to perform.
God’s grace invites us to trust Him more deeply, knowing that our identity and security are anchored in what Jesus has done. When we embrace this gift of righteousness, we are set free from the exhausting cycle of trying to prove ourselves, and we can rest in the assurance that we are fully accepted and loved by God.

“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” (Romans 4:5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself trying to earn God’s approval? How can you remind yourself today that your righteousness is a gift, not an achievement?

Day 5: Pursuing Christ as Life’s Greatest Treasure

The Christian journey is a continual process of letting go of lesser things to gain the greatest treasure—Christ Himself. This pursuit is not always easy; it may involve sacrifice, suffering, or the loss of things we once held dear. Yet, the hope of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus gives us courage to press on.
Each day is an invitation to examine what we are clinging to and to ask what needs to be surrendered for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. As we pursue Him above all else, we find that He is more than enough—our joy, our hope, and our life.

“But 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.” (Philippians 3:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one “lesser thing” you sense God inviting you to let go of so you can pursue Christ more fully? What step can you take today to respond to that invitation?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon:**

In this sermon on Philippians 3:1-11, we explored the human tendency to build our identity and worth on our achievements—our “resumes”—and how this mindset can even infiltrate our spiritual lives. Paul’s message to the Philippians, a people proud of their Roman citizenship and privileges, is a call to rejoice not in ourselves or our accomplishments, but in the Lord. Paul warns against placing confidence in the flesh, using his own impressive religious resume as an example of what must be counted as loss for the sake of knowing Christ. The surpassing worth of knowing Jesus far outweighs any earthly status, achievement, or background. True righteousness and hope are found not in what we do, but in what Christ has done, and our lives should be oriented around gaining Christ, being found in Him, and knowing Him—even if it means sharing in His sufferings.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Danger of Spiritual Resumes: It is easy to fall into the trap of measuring our spiritual worth by our achievements, background, or religious activity. Paul’s example shows that even the most impressive spiritual resume is worthless compared to knowing Christ. We must be vigilant not to let our sense of identity or security rest on what we have done, but on who Christ is and what He has done for us.
2. True Joy Is Rooted in Christ, Not Ourselves: Paul’s command to “rejoice in the Lord” is not a shallow encouragement, but a call to ground our joy in something unshakeable. When our joy is rooted in Christ rather than our own performance or circumstances, we are freed from the exhausting cycle of self-promotion and comparison. This joy is a safeguard for our souls, keeping us from the pride and insecurity that come from relying on ourselves.
3. The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Jesus: Paul’s willingness to count everything as loss highlights the incomparable value of knowing Christ. This is not a theoretical or abstract knowledge, but a personal, experiential relationship that reorders our priorities. The things we once treasured become expendable when compared to the joy and fulfillment found in Christ alone.
4. Righteousness Is a Gift, Not an Achievement: Paul makes it clear that the righteousness that matters before God is not earned by our efforts, but received through faith in Christ. This truth humbles us and liberates us from the pressure to perform for God’s approval. It also calls us to a deeper trust in God’s grace, recognizing that our standing before Him is secure because of Jesus, not because of our spiritual track record.
5. Pursuing Christ Above All Else: The Christian life is a continual process of letting go of lesser things to gain the greatest treasure—Christ Himself. This pursuit may involve sacrifice, suffering, and the loss of things we once held dear, but it is fueled by the hope of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus. Each day invites us to examine what we are clinging to, and to ask ourselves what needs to be counted as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:1-11)**

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### Bible Reading

- **Philippians 3:1-11**

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### Observation Questions

According to Philippians 3:3, what are the three characteristics of the “true circumcision” or the true people of God?
What does Paul list as his “spiritual resume” in verses 4-6, and why would these things have been impressive in his context?
In verses 7-8, what does Paul say he does with his achievements and why?
What three things does Paul say he longs for in verses 8-11 as a result of counting everything as loss?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul warn the Philippians against putting confidence in the flesh, and how might this relate to the way people today build their identity?
What does it mean to “rejoice in the Lord” instead of in ourselves or our achievements? How is this different from just being happy about good things in our lives?
Paul says that righteousness is not something we achieve but something we receive through faith in Christ. How does this challenge the way people often think about being “good enough” for God?
Paul is willing to count everything as loss—even good things—for the sake of knowing Christ. What does this reveal about what he values most, and how might this challenge our own priorities?

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### Application Questions

The sermon talked about “spiritual resumes”—ways we try to prove our worth to God or others. What are some things you tend to put on your own “spiritual resume”? How do these things affect your sense of identity or security?
Paul says he counts everything as loss compared to knowing Christ. Is there something in your life—an achievement, a relationship, a comfort—that you find hard to let go of for the sake of following Jesus? What would it look like to “count it as loss”?
The command to “rejoice in the Lord” is described as a safeguard for our souls. When you think about where your joy comes from, is it more rooted in your circumstances, your performance, or in Christ? How can you shift your focus to find joy in Jesus this week?
The sermon mentioned that true righteousness is a gift, not an achievement. Are there ways you still try to “earn” God’s approval? How can you remind yourself to rest in what Christ has done for you instead?
Paul talks about knowing Christ in a personal and experiential way, even sharing in His sufferings. What are some practical steps you can take to grow in your relationship with Jesus—not just knowing about Him, but truly knowing Him?
The idea of “letting go of lesser things to gain the greatest treasure” is central to this passage. What is one thing you feel God might be asking you to let go of so you can pursue Christ more fully?
The hope of resurrection and eternal life with Jesus fueled Paul’s willingness to sacrifice. How does the hope of eternity shape your daily decisions and priorities? Is there a specific area where you need to let that hope influence your choices this week?

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Sermon Quotes

We live in a world obsessed with resumes and achievements, but Paul reminds us that our greatest joy isn’t found in what we’ve done—it’s found in the Lord. Ground your life in Christ, not in your accomplishments.

There is no hope in ourselves. We glory in Christ, not in our achievements. We put no confidence in the flesh, because our worth comes from God, not from anything we can put on a list.

Paul takes his impressive list of accomplishments and counts them as garbage—he hauls them off to the trash can. Everything is counted as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

It does not matter what your background is, who your parents are, what your career is, or how good you are. All of it is loss compared to knowing Jesus. Christ is the highest value.

The greatest treasure you can have is knowing Jesus. There is nothing more valuable and nothing of greater worth. Christ is so valuable that we will count everything else in our life as trash.

Every decision we make must be under the calculation of whether this will cause us to gain Christ. Gaining Christ is everything. We want to be with Christ. We want to enjoy Christ.

Our achievements do not impress God. We cannot win the favor of God because we have done some good things. We must depend fully upon the grace of God and rely solely on Christ for our righteousness.

Paul says he just wants to know Christ—even if it means sharing in his sufferings. Knowing Jesus is worth more than anything else, even if it means walking through hardship to experience his resurrection power.

We must teach ourselves that Jesus is more delightful and more desirable than television, movies, entertainment, comfort, hobbies, rest, sleep, eating, work, family, or anything else that interferes with our pursuit of him.

What are we doing to pursue Christ? What are we throwing away from our lives for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus? What needs to be counted as loss so we can truly know him?

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