Philippians 3 was a huge encouragement today. Learned again a basic principle of walking. "I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." Paul states that he "suffered the loss of all things," most of which was because of imprisonment and other forms of persecution--against his will. But notice what he says next: "and do count them but dung." He didn't just lose everything physically, but he was purged of the desire to have those things that he was without, being content in whatsoever state he was in--part of learning how to be abased. He counts these things that he had and had done as loss that he may win Christ. Christ is not fully pleased with us when we still hold onto earthly ties; concerning a relationship attained thus far: "Not having mine own righteousness," "I count not myself having apprehended," etc. Concerning the tangible: "For many walk (look righteous),. . .and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things." What earthly things entice us? Ask for God's cleansing. Seek those things which are above. For Christ's sake, Paul learned how to abound and to be abased, that his heart might not be in want when that excellent knowlege of the Lord Jesus Christ was his, knowlege emphasizing familiarity with His person in a relationship. "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body. . .He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself."