[Discoveries] 01-10-07 The fellowship of his sufferings

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*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 
... Philippians 3:10 NIV*/

To be honest, I've always been afraid of this verse. Sure I want to know 
Christ, and yes I want to know the power of His resurrection. But 
suffering?

Hey, I don't like suffering any more than you do.

But slowly I am beginning to understand that this verse isn't a command 
to suffer /more/, but rather an invitation to suffer in a different way.

Here's the reality folks: All of us suffer. The good, the bad, the 
young, the old -- you can't walk through this fallen world without 
tasting the bitter taste of suffering.

What does it mean to become like Christ in His death? Jesus died 
victorious. The very Romans who crucified Him stood there in awe and 
said, "Surely, this is the Son of God."

What does it mean to know the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings? 
It means that everything and everyone who tries to destroy us shrink 
into insignificance next to the presence of the Son of God. Yes, we 
suffer. But suffering doesn't diminish us; rather it shows the 
indestructibility of God's work in our lives.

Be encouraged!
Dwight


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