“I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

Dear Jesus, These are some of the most thought provoking words in your whole Bible. I kind of just want to sit near them and think with my mouth shut and my hands off the keyboard. The power of your resurrection has to be about living with joy even in hard times because we know we will survive and be raised up at the last day. But then Paul follows with “I want to know the participation in his (yours) sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Now, that’s a mind-bender. I don’t wake up any morning wanting to fellowship in your sufferings, at least not by nature. But that’s what he said. He said he wanted to participate in your sufferings! I know that you will put us through suffering just like you had. But I don’t see how I can want to have you do that! If I sit quietly and meditate on it, I believe your Holy Spirit will lead me to understand and embrace it. Help me to want to suffer anything and everything in order to serve humanity the way you did. Help me want to do it! I won’t if you don’t. Amen.

When the Sacrificial Christ lives in your heart, he makes you suffer willingly to serve people like he did.