Read that passage again. Slowly. Let it sink in.
What a powerful description of God’s salvation at work in
a person! What an amazing shift in priorities and desires!
“I count everything as loss.” Why? Because of Jesus.
Because of the righteousness he has won for me. Because of the salvation I have
experienced in him.
Wow!
The desires of the Christian become gaining Christ, being
found in him, knowing the power of his resurrection, sharing in his suffering, becoming
like him in his death.
Wait. What? Share in his suffering? Become like him in
his death?
Yes. Because this is how Jesus saved us. This is where
Jesus shows us his love: he suffered and died for us. Should we not, then, be
willing (even glad) to suffer and die for him? After all, hasn’t he promised us
resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory?
Besides that, what if, through our suffering for Jesus’
sake, someone meets Jesus, who suffered and died for them, through us?
Lord Jesus, Paul
shows us an example of a life that is filled with the hope of your salvation.
Thank you for his passion and drive to serve you, as well as his willingness to
suffer and die like you. Forgive us for our hesitance to suffer for your sake.
Remind us that it is a blessing to suffer for the sake of righteousness because
you use our suffering to draw people to your suffering and death where you paid
for the sins of the world. In your name we pray. Amen.
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