But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3: 7-11, NIV.
Holy Father, here we are again. Please help us to become more like You. This is our prayer in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today we will be looking at the last part of our Scripture:
Resembling Him in death, that I might be like Him in the resurrection. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” We should not ask for this if we do not mean it. Paul wanted to know Christ with such sincerity and a sense of urgency, that he wanted to feel how Christ’s suffering felt. He wanted to share in His sufferings. He did, to some extent. He was beheaded!
In spite of how gloomy Paul’s end might appear to be, let us not lose heart. He not only wanted to share in Christ’s sufferings; he wanted to have this experience in the hope, that he would also partake in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. As he faced death, he had this to say: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4: 6-8). He was sure that, on that day – the day of the resurrection, a crown was awaiting him.
To the apostle, the most important thing was to get to know Christ. Once he knew Christ, everything else that he desired, would come, naturally. And so it is with the Christian, as we get to know the Savior, by faith, we begin to experience the power that raised Christ from the dead. That power manifests itself in the form of victory over sin in our lives.
How do we participate in His suffering? There are certain sufferings that come as a direct result of being a Christian. But as we studied yesterday, the persecutions and insults we can endure, because we are not enduring them alone. We are in fellowship with Him in His suffering. He bears it with us. He will never allow us to go through anything that He did not directly, or indirectly, suffer while He was here on earth. He reminds us, “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15: 20).
Then finally, when our journey here on earth is ended, we have this promise: Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8: 17)!
That you and I may know Him – in the here and now!
NOTE: Our devotional for today will be late. My regrets! We have a new Article of the Month, beginning today. Be sure to visit that page!
Blessings,
Mabel