[Steve Myers] We're gonna take a look at Philippians 3:8. It gives us a little bit of a mind bender to get our thinking into a different perspective when it comes to the challenges, and trials, and difficulties of the life that we're living right now. Here, it turns it around in an equation kind of a way, that actually loss is gain. Loss is gain, and notice the way that Paul wrote this concept to the Philippians.

First, in Philippians 3:8, he says, "I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." He's showing this life isn't what it's all about. This life isn't most important. It's what's to come that is reality. So then he says, "I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish that I many gain Christ."

Whatever the sufferings or the losses of this life are, Paul was able to turn that around in his own mind and live a godly life, put on Christ-like character. He says to be found in him. Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law but that which is through faith in Christ. 

Putting on godly character. Having that mindset. That's the mindset that Christ had. That's what He lived with His life. He points to that very thing. In fact, he says in Verse 10, "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death." (Philippians 3:10)

When I talk about the ultimate mind bender, maybe that's it. That in the sufferings that we face in this life, we're challenged. Is this really what it's about or can we recognize that we have fellowship with the sufferings of Christ? We are sharing those sufferings. In sharing those sufferings, we recognize we're conformed to Christ. We can have a Christ-like outlook in this life and ultimately, be conformed to his death. That I put my own ways of thinking away. I put that old man aside. I leave them buried and dead so that I can put on the character of Jesus Christ. 

When we're suffering, try to keep Philippians 3:8 in mind, that loss with the right mindset and the right actions to follow can truly be gain.

That's BT Daily. We'll see you next time.