I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11
The writer of Philippians, Paul, once had desired to gain right standing with God through his own achievements. But when he encountered Jesus, he realized that only Christ was able to achieve salvation on his behalf, and that understanding changed everything for Paul. He desired to know Christ, experience the power of his resurrection, and even partake in his sufferings. He desired to be conformed into Christlikeness. Oh how I want to be like Paul! He tells us everything needed to live a victorious Christian life. But how often do I get distracted, chasing after my fleshly desires, rather than pursuing Christ? More often than I’d like to admit! If you are honest, don’t you find that in your own life too?
We have to remember the amazing power that was displayed on the cross on our behalf by Christ. He paid the price for our sins so that we could be called children of God and be made righteous before the Father. His resurrection is our resurrection. When we place our faith and trust in him, we are raised to a new life in Christ. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are being conformed into Christ’s image more and more each day.
The cross not only gave us the forgiveness of our sins, which we so desperately needed, but also the resurrection broke the chains of sin and death so that we can be with our Lord for eternity.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me so much that you sent your Son, who lived a perfect life and submitted himself to a brutal death on the cross. I confess that there are often times that I get distracted and desire things other than the pursuit of Christ. Help me to submit to the leading, guiding, and correction of the Holy Spirit to change my heart to desire to know Christ, to lean in to the power of his resurrection and his suffering, and to pursue becoming more and more like him each day.
