Fellowship of the Cross (Phil 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 - Philippians 3:10-11

The number one overarching goal of the Apostle Paul's life was simply this: to know Christ.

"Didn't he already know Christ?"

Yes he did. But he knew that he could know Him better.

Just as 1,000,000 is no closer to infinity than is 100, the more Paul knew Christ, the more he realized there was to know about His eternal goodness.

Fame, success, wealth, health, legacy, marriage, children - none of these could compare with the value that Paul placed on knowing Christ. Nothing was more important to him.

Paul says also that he wants to know not only Christ but,

the power of his resurrection.

To this we all say yes and amen. Who doesn't want the glory of the resurrection? We all want the comfort, and the peace, and the joy that it brings. But how many of us are willing to continue on with Paul and say,

and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.

Do we seek Christ as a means to the end of peace, joy, happiness, and eternal security?

Or do we seek Christ for His own sake?

Of course Jesus does give us all those things - and many more. But is our motivation the wonderful gifts He gives, or is our motivation the Giver of these gifts, Jesus Himself?

If we are being honest with ourselves, the answer we give with our mouths may look quite different than the answer demonstrated by our actions. Most of us would probably be ashamed of the true posture of our hearts if they were to be truly exposed to us.

But there is one way we can fight against the selfishness that dwells within our flesh - and that is to embrace the Cross of Christ. It is to rejoice in our sufferings knowing that Jesus is there present. And not only is He there, but He is there in a uniquely powerful way.

It is in the trials and tribulations of life that it becomes possible for us to demonstrate our true trust in God. When things are good anybody can be grateful. When things are pleasant anybody can smile. When things are easy anybody can be at peace.

But when the world seems to be falling apart around us, when the waves of our emotions are raging beyond our control, when the circumstances of life could not seem to get worse - this is where we find out what we truly believe.

It is in suffering that we are able to stake our claim in the belief of the supremacy of the Reality in Christ compared to whatever may be happening before our eyes. It is in suffering that we are afforded a unique opportunity to declare our true citizenship as being in heaven over earth.

It is by embracing the Cross - not for the sake of suffering but because Christ promises to be there with us - that we may become like Him in His death and so, in some mysterious way, share even now in His Resurrected life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his,

we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his

Romans 6:5