Philippians 3:7-11
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
The depth of God is insurmountable to the mind and understanding of man, but yet He willed and prepared the way for man to come to the knowledge of Him through His Spirit. For by His Spirit , He draws all men unto Himself. The seekers heart is O so pleasing to the sight of the Lord. For He truly longs to be pursued in relationship with man. He created the world for us, but created us for Himself. To know that the Creator, God, wrapped in flesh would care, love, and long for His finite creation in this manner, depicts the very tapestry of His heart as a banner of love. To know God is to walk with Him; to seek His face; to look upon His precepts; and to know that obedience unto Him is the greatest display of love that we can give Him in return. Have you ever loved anyone enough to call all things loss in comparison to knowing them? Paul speaks of this type of deep, unconditional love for His Savior. This portion of scripture is a testimony of the agony of blindness to the truth coupled with the Glory of the sight of truth. Knowing Jesus Christ to be the One true God of Israel changed Saul of Tarsus. Where he had been prideful, he became humble. Where he was religious, he became a servant. Where he had once relied upon his own intellect, he began to have faith in the unseen. Paul longed to be as Christ in his spirit, thoughts, and actions. Jesus Christ carried and gave a sacrificial love in order for redemption power to come to His creation. Being willing to do the same for Him is what is needed to be His servant, His child, and His vessel. To walk with Jesus Christ is to fellowship with Him in His sufferings, worship Him in His power, and Glory with Him in His coming return. To know that the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New so gripped Paul on the Road to Damascus that He could only speak, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.”
Jesus revealed Himself to Saul, declaring the name of above all names of the One, true God.
Acts 9:1-9
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Without sight, this persecutor of Jesus Christ would soon become a vessel of Jesus Christ with great spiritual sight. He was forgiven much, thus He loved much. Saul asked the question, “Who are You, Lord?” The Lord used Paul’s vigor and steadfast heart for His purposes. To preach the very thing that he had once, himself, lacked: the truth of the mystery and knowledge of God. Paul’s spiritual and natural sight came as he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 9:17-18
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Paul was given a divine love for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As he was baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, he identified with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The revelation of the oneness of God in the image of Jesus Christ marked Paul for the glory of the Lord. For as a chosen vessel unto the Lord, he declared the truth of Christ and Him crucified unto the masses, and willed to be worthy in His sight to suffer with Him. For Christ was his only gain.
Just as Saul of Tarsus asked the question, “Who are You, Lord?” He received his answer. To know Jesus Christ as your Lord, is to know who He is. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). Paul’s experience with Jesus in one moment set his heart ablaze for the only One of eternal worth and treasure, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Seek to have a heart that longs to know Jesus above all else. Let knowing the Divine be your only treasure and gain.
Lord, I pray that you would draw all men unto yourself by your Spirit. That you would give revelation knowledge of who you are to those that seek you with a pure heart. Let the revelation of your name be declared. Remove the scales from the eyes of those who cannot see. I pray that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You would be imparted to chosen vessels for the purposes of Your Kingdom. I pray, that to know You, Jesus, as Lord would not be merely words upon lips but would rather manifest as lives of living sacrifice for you. All of these things, I pray, In Jesus Name, Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved
