Today’s Reading, Philippians 1-4
Focal Scripture: Philippians 3:10 “My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,”
We are coming up on the end of one year and the beginning of another year. That means people will set goals for themselves because they desire to accomplish something they are not currently doing. It could be weight loss and they want to hit the gym. Maybe it is education and they plan on reading one book a month. No matter what the goal is, a plan has to be put into place or it will never happen. This is true in our personal life and in our spiritual life.
In today’s reading Paul tells the church at Philippi what his goals are in his walk with the Lord. First, he wants to know Jesus better and the power of his resurrection. This is a bold statement and declares that Paul longs for a deeper faith that will transform him in powerful ways. Then he goes on to say that he wants to partake in the sufferings of Christ. What does that mean? It means that Paul doesn’t want an easy faith. He doesn’t expect it to cost him nothing. Paul wants to experience power and he wants to understand suffering on a personal level. Power and suffering are two sides of the same coin.
So what about you? What is the goal of your Christian walk? For many, one of the only desire they have is to be set free from the penalty of sin. However, they also want an easy life. They expect to never experience pain. They also expect to get all of their desires granted. New house, done. Six-figure job, granted. They want all of the power that raised Christ from the dead, they just don’t want the journey that leads to knowing that power.
Before you say, I am being to judgmental, think about the conversations you have with people concerning their faith. How often do people say I want God to bless me and help me through my situations? Then compare that to the people who declare “I want to know what it is to suffer.” Paul, knew his goal and the only way it would be accomplished is by experiencing pain. Scars tell stories and lead to a deeper faith.
As you are planning on growing in your faith are you preparing yourself to suffer? If not you will struggle with the journey. The goal of the Christian life is not to have it easy, it is to be perfected through suffering. Only, a person who is dependent upon the Lord can understand the power that comes from the creator of the universe.
What is your goal right now? Do you want the power with no suffering? Or do you want to suffer and receive power? I hope and pray that your goal is to know the Lord in the good times and the bad, because it will change how you live. Make goals but have them align with scripture not your own personal desires.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Colossians 1-4
