Thursday the 21st

Philippians 3: 10

 

¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

 

Sharing his sufferings and becoming like him in death……Of course Paul is not talking about dying in the physical sense, at least for him self. He is speaking about the death that comes to all of us spiritually. The death to sin. Christ did not die naturally, nor did he die, peacefully, or humanely. His life was ripped form his body one lash at a time, one fist at a time, and one nail at a time. It was a painful, and drawn out ordeal. Such is our death to sin. It is not like ripping a band-aid off. One quick rip and the pain is gone. We struggle, we have conflict, we suffer the loss of our old self, and if we are honest, while we are glad to be rid of it, shedding that old life can be difficult. We would do well to remember the death of Christ when we feel the calling of our old life, those old habits that try to creep back in, the old tricks of the trade that we used to exploit others, and advance ourselves. Remember the sufferings of Christ, remember the sacrifice that was made. Rejoice in the opportunity to use your life as a living example of the love of the Lord. Work to shed yourself of the old life. We are dead to sin, do not let the call of the old life call  you back. As Christ told us, once you put your hand to the plow, you cannot look back. Welcome the struggle, and the conflict that comes form separating yourself from this world, bury your old self as Christ was buried, so that each day is a new resurrection of your mind, and spirit. Let us live triumphantly as people dedicated to the power, and the fellowship that is Christ Jesus.

 

Peace,

Brian