Release Your Grip on the Old

"Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ."

Philippians 3:7 (NIV)

When Paul said, “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ,” what was he talking about? Among other things, he was referring to his cultural status, his learning and exposures, his possessions and materials. Christ gave Paul the capacity to think of all of that as nothing when compared to what Jesus has done to define and bring meaning to his life.

Spiritually speaking, you don’t wear anything—except your salvation—that can’t be taken off if necessary. No certain mindset, no human attachment, no regimented discipline, no painful experience, no mistake or regret, no choice or action, no way of doing things. You don’t wear anything that can’t be disrobed for what God has for you next.

So stop wearing certain things like they alone define you. Jesus was as much Savior with a towel around His waist, on His hands and knees, washing the disciples’ feet, as He was with an outer robe draped across His shoulders while seated at the table teaching the unsearchable riches about the kingdom of God. He was as much God without His outer garment as when He wore it healing sicknesses and performing miracles.

Likewise, you don’t lose your identity because God makes you take off something that prevents the gift He wants to give you next. You are not the things you put on. You are the person Jesus leads through the shedding of unnecessary layers in the acceptance of others and the guided transitions that He manages in your life.

Acceptance of the next phase in life requires some degree of shedding what is behind. When it is time to mature, some things can’t be negotiated for coexistence. They have to be cast away when it’s time to grow, transition, make progression, or accept elevation. Sometimes you have to lay down what you used to consider gain, and count it as a loss for the sake Christ, in order to progress to what God has in store for you.

So don’t be afraid or intimidated to release your grip on what you think defines you. Allow God to strip it away and leave only what matters.