Text: Philippians 3:10-11

“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.”

When I first read this scripture it sounded so dark and tragic to me. I was raised as a believer but with a twisted view of what it meant to be a Christian. I thought it was all about reaping blessings and being prospered by the Lord and there is truth to that. But when you receive only one part of the gospel you don’t gain a true understanding of what it means to be a believer, a true follower of Christ.
Jesus himself said, “In this world, you will have trouble…” (John 16:33). He also said “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34). Likewise in James chapter 1 it says, “Count it all joy… when you fall into various trials…” There is no if, it is a when. Many believers spend the majority of their spiritual effort avoiding trials or trying to pray their way out of them as apposed to seeking God’s will in the trial and learning what he wants to teach us.
In this text Paul first says, “I want to know Christ.” I can almost feel his longing for more intimacy with His creator. He then says, “…and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Almost as if to say that in order to know Christ better He must suffer similar sufferings that Christ suffered. He then makes the statement, “becoming like Him in His death.” Was Paul saying that he wanted to literally die? I don’t think so. I think what Paul is saying here is that by counting himself as dead to sin, he could experience greater life in Christ (Romans 6:11). God does want to prosper us and bless us. He is a good God that gives good gifts. But he also wants to transform us more into His likeness each and every day. I believe that ultimate victory in this life for us is to make a short list of priorities like Paul the apostle does in this scripture.
Number one: Setting our wills and placing all of our desire into knowing Christ more and more each day. This includes reading His word and praying and seeking intimacy with Him daily. Secondly, learning to walk in resurrection power. The resurrection is central to our beliefs as Christians. Without a resurrection there is no eternal life. Resurrection represents the victory that we can have in Him over death and over the troubles of this world. Thirdly, the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings. Hebrews 5:8 says, “He (Jesus) learned obedience from what he suffered.” It’s through trials and testing and sadly, through suffering that we learn the important lessons that God is teaching us. When we go joyfully into each trial we allow God to be glorified in our lives. The result is to become more and more like Him each and every day and to live transformed, resurrected lives before our Lord Jesus Christ.

How to pray this scripture:

Lord Jesus, I do want to know you. I want to know your character. I want to know the person of Jesus Christ. Lord, show me resurrection power in my life each and every day. Lord, when I fall into a trial, give me strength to persevere and to be secure and joyful in knowing that you are always in control. When I do suffer, remind ne that you suffered too and that even in my suffering you are with me and you love me. I want to become like you. I want to be dead to the desires of this world so that I may attain to the resurrection that you have for me. Amen.

Other scriptures to read:

John 16:32-33
Romans 6;10-12
Ephesians 2:4-6
James 1:2-4

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