Philippians 3:7-11 (NRSV)
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Verse 7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. Verse 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Verse 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. Verse 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, Verse 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Devotion
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection…” These are surprising words given Paul’s previous identity as a persecutor of those who confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. Now, Paul wants to know the power of Christ’s resurrection for himself. Advent is the season we give thanks for the incarnation of God-with-us and remember the way it changes everything. Christ and the power of his resurrection can change enemies of God into apostles, strangers into neighbors, and bring new life from death. Christ and the power of his resurrection are still at work today—making all things new in the world and in every human heart. We await the coming of Christ, so that we can know at last the power of his resurrection.
Prayer
God of grace, teach us to know the power of your resurrection in our
lives, that what we do will glorify your lavish grace. Amen.