Philippians 3:7-14: "7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
"12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Matthew 10:38-39: "38 'And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"
Luke 9:62: "Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"
Revelation 2:10: "'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.'"
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The passage from Philippians 3 is the main source for the hymn. Philippians 3:7 and the verses from Matthew 10 are particularly evident in the first verse: "All for Christ I have forsaken / And have taken up my cross."
Luke 9:62 appears at the end of the second verse ("Hand to plow, at peace I follow / Where He leads me... why look back?"), and Revelation 2:10 is referred to at the end of the third verse ("Firm and faithful unto death").
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The line "Strong in Christ through death's dark valley" in the third verse refers to Psalm 23:4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
The lines "God will keep my spouse and children / As the apple of His eye" at the end of the fourth verse are drawn from Psalm 17:8: "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."
