Philippians 3:2-11. Paul cautions us to "Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers, look out for those who would mutilate the flesh." Those who worship Jesus Christ in spirit are "the true circumcision" and we should have no confidence in the flesh. Paul remembers that, if anyone should have reason to be confident in the flesh, It is he - he was a righteous Hebrew, the Pharisee, a zealous defender of his faith, and blameless under the law. But all of that is nothing, it is a loss, a detriment, when counted against Christ. Paul counts everything as a loss compared to "the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." He has suffered the loss of all things for the sake of Christ and does not miss them in the least - they are mere refuse. The only true righteousness does not come from ourselves, but from Christ, through faith. Paul only hopes that he can share in Christ's sufferings, "becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

This is the end game - complete detachment from everything but Christ. I hope we all get to this point - the point of realization that all of the goals we set for ourselves, all of our earthly achievements, all of our stuff - our homes, our cars, our technology, everything, is mere rubbish compared with what Christ has achieved for us. That is our only goal - to share in his sufferings because we have faith that through him we may achieve everlasting life. As usual, it is upside down, it is not what the world tells us (that is how you know it's right!). We should disdain all the things the world tells us are good and should embrace suffering for the sake of Christ. It seems hard, but the more we let go, the easier it gets.

The upside down reference reminded me of this: