Paul’s letter to the Philippians is beautiful on many levels. He has such love for the believers in Philippi that he “longs for them all with the affection of Christ.” How many of us have that same kind of love for the believers we know?

He was also thankful that they had “participated in the gospel” with him. Do we even think about such things today? How thankful are we for those we know at home and abroad who are participating in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we so focused on our own lives that we don’t even think about the hard work and self-sacrifice they are enduring for the Lord?

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul rejoices in his imprisonment because he knows it’s going to turn out for his deliverance (This man knew Christ so well that he knew he was going to be delivered!) He goes on to say, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Such a lofty way of thinking could only come from someone who really knew Christ.

In the third chapter of his letter, Paul expounds on the subject of knowing Christ. “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings…” Paul desired to know Christ so much that he gave up everything. But for Paul that wasn’t nearly enough. He wanted to know Him as well through the fellowship of His sufferings.

Not many of us can comprehend the single-mindedness Paul had for knowing Christ. But by studying his teachings, we soon realize that our goal should be the same as his. Only by growing in our knowledge of Christ day-by-day will we be able to love others with the love of Christ and then accomplish the good works that He created before time for us to do.