Start Your Year, Start Your Day



January 19, 2010
Philippians 3:10-11

 

10 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,

11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)



Is there someone in your life that you feel you really know… someone that has shared with you and you with them – good times and bad?


There are some really great things about that kind of relationship. It is real, no pretense. It is steady, whether the present circumstances are good or bad. And, it seems that weathering the tough times together, makes the good times all the more wonderful by contrast.

Paul is talking here about our relationship with Christ in a similar way. He’s talking about sharing experience and perspective. Our relationship with Christ has two elements that are very real: the “already” and the “not yet.”

The “already” would include having his presence, not just with us, but actually “in” us. That’s now and forever. Another “already” that Paul refers to is sharing in Christ’s sufferings. Paul not only suffered imprisonment, but physical pain multiple times and eventually he was executed for serving Christ. I don’t think American Christians even consider that possibility, even though many Christians suffer and even die for Christ in today’s modern world. However, even in our affluent culture, we still must endure the pain and suffering that comes from living in this sin cursed world, with a very real enemy (1 Peter 5:8) set on discouraging us and disrupting our spiritual growth and effectiveness in serving God.

Now, the “not yet” is what’s really exciting. We have “not yet” experienced the power of his resurrection personally as we will – either by death or transformation. Paul was absolutely confident of the resurrection power of Christ. He had witnessed it when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and he also caught a glimpse of the glory of Heaven, possibly when he had been stoned and thought to be dead (2 Corinthians 12). The point here is that Paul’s confidence in the resurrection power of Christ gave him a unique perspective on his present sufferings (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17).

Whatever circumstances and events we face today, we can be confident of Christ’s presence and we can look forward with great anticipation to the power of his resurrection, which holds for us such eternal and indescribable joy that it makes today’s difficulties all but disappear by comparison.
 

A Thankful Thought


I usually start my morning thanksgiving the night before. I read a chapter in the Psalms and try and go to sleep with Psalm 42:1 on my mind: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." I know the real me and I pray God will change my heart to desire the things He wants me to desire.

Unfortunately, I am a morning person so I usually drive those around me nuts. I usually go over Psalm 118:24 in my mind: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; I will rejoice and be glad in it." With that on my mind I know that whatever the Lord brings into my life that day is of Him. So through the day I look for the blessings God brings into my life. It's amazing the small things you notice when you are looking for them. I'm not saying it is always easy and some days it is really hard but when you look back over those rough days you can see God is always faithful and His hand is at work to make my heart right before Him.

A NewSpring Staff Member


 



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