Daily Devotional

Reading this passage so soon after entrenching myself in the events that led up to Christ's death on the cross has caused me to pay close attention to what it really means to say, "I want to know the fellowship of His sufferings" It's one thing to say I am so grateful for the suffering He endured, but to say I want to be included in those sufferings is really something we as believers need to take to heart. During the last three years of Christ's life He formed amazing friendships, but those friendships were with people that many would call uncommon, untrustworthy and even immoral. He alienated the leaders of the church. It wasn't just the week before His crucifixion that sufferings occured, it was throughout those three years of ministry. It was His "normal."

So as we pray about having fellowship with His sufferings and being conformed to His death we need to be aware that our "normal" will change.

I do believe that His resurrection gives us strength to endure the sufferings that come, but I know my mindset needs to do a "flip" and accept sufferings as a comfort in knowing He loves me so much He is entrusting me with them.

The next passage that comes after this gives me great hope, "Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." Philippians 3:12

I will keep pressing on and pray I will fellowship well with Him in His sufferings.

New American Standard Bible®,
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