How does your life change when you rightly remember Christ each day? What happens when you forget the blessings God has worked in and through you? These questions invite us to reflect on the transformative power of remembering who God is and what He has done.

The Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians offers profound insights into the value of knowing Christ above all else. Written from prison, Paul wanted believers to understand that God was using his imprisonment and suffering to further the Gospel.

In Philippians 3:7-10, Paul makes a radical statement about his priorities:

"But whatever things were gained to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be lost in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and counted them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ."

Paul had impressive credentials - circumcised on the eighth day, from the nation of Israel, tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee zealous for the law. By religious standards, he was blameless. Yet he considered all these achievements as worthless compared to knowing Christ.

Paul understood something profound: our righteousness doesn't come from keeping the law or our own achievements. As he states in verse 9, he wanted to "be found in him not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but which is through faith in Christ Jesus, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."

This echoes Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast."

Paul offers three essential reminders that help us maintain our focus on Christ:

"Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord." (Philippians 3:1)

Paul doesn't tell us to rejoice in our feelings, thoughts, or circumstances. Our joy is anchored in the Lord Himself. Whatever you're going through, God knows, God cares, and God is in control. Your circumstances are part of His story, not just yours.

Throughout verses 2-9, Paul warns against those who would add requirements to the gospel. He emphasizes that salvation is "Jesus plus nothing." We must be spiritually aware of false teachings that try to add human works to Christ's finished work.

The ultimate goal of our new life in Christ is to know Him deeply. As Jesus said in John 17:3, "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, who you have sent."

Getting to know Christ is similar to building any deep relationship:

This isn't just an experience; it's life-on-life discipleship. It's a process of inward transformation that begins in our hearts and flows outward. Sometimes this process is difficult because we can't see what God is doing in the midst of our circumstances. We want immediate results, but Jesus often has different plans.

Your brokenness is what God uses to write His story. He takes the bits and pieces of your life and weaves them into His greater narrative. While we won't see the complete picture until heaven, we don't have to wait to experience the blessings of knowing Jesus in the here and now.

As Paul writes in Philippians 3:12-14:

"Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on, if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet, but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul emphasizes the importance of community in verse 17: "Brothers and sisters, join in following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."

We need each other. Like in recovery programs where sponsors and accountability partners are crucial, the body of Christ functions best when we come alongside one another. We're called to unity in Christ, supporting each other through struggles and celebrating growth together.

Colossians 1:13-20 reminds us who Jesus is:

Jesus stepped into our world humbly, lived a perfect life, died a brutal death, and rose victorious over sin and death. Unlike the repeated sacrifices in the Old Testament, Jesus is the perfect sacrifice offered once for all.

True discipleship is more than just an experience—it's the presence of Jesus that transforms us. Our response should be to follow Christ's command in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you."

This week, consider these questions:

Remember that it's on Jesus' timetable, not our own. As you abide in Him and trust Him alone, He will continue His transforming work in your life, using even your brokenness to write His beautiful story.