Encouragement Letters

Good Morning Friend,

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10). -The Apostle Paul

Christians around the world have just celebrated another Easter Sunday, better referred to as "Resurrection Sunday." It is always a glorious day. I have often longed to celebrate the day in an elongated, stretched-out way. That is . . . I have a deep desire to live Resurrection Sunday ALL-YEAR-LONG. Likely that is behind Paul's statements in Philippians 3:10, as quoted above. He shares three persistent pursuits in this verse.

THE PURSUIT OF KNOWING CHRIST. Of course he knew Him. He met Him on the Damascus Road. Since that day the relationship grew (3:7-9). But Paul wanted it to continue to grow. He longed to know Christ better yet. The Greek root used here is a very specific word . . . meaning to know more fully, more thoroughly, more deeply, and more intimately. Peter expressed the same desire in his frequent mentions of the word, "knowledge" in his two epistles. He ends the second epistle urging all of us Christians to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18). Is this becoming one of your persistent pursuits?

THE PURSUIT OF UTILIZING RESURRECTION POWER. He wanted to know the power of the Resurrection . . . both in his understanding but also in his utilization. Paul also stressed this in his letter to the Ephesian Christians . . .

From the entirety of the Scriptures we know that this power is truly available to us. It is Resurrection Power to lift us out of neutrality . . . out of mediocrity. It is not power to do our own thing. Not power to fulfill our own agenda. But it is power to be what he wants us to be. It is power to become what He wants us to become. And it is power to do what He wants us to do.

THE PURSUIT OF SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS. Take another look at the last phrase in the text, as written at the top of this letter: to know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. What an amazing pursuit. Too many of us try our best to avoid suffering in any size, shape, or severity. But Paul actually wanted to taste of the sufferings of Jesus. He wanted to accept his own sufferings and somehow be able to relate them to the sufferings of Christ.

Paul is not instructing us to look for sufferings. Troubles will find us without our pursuit of them. Let's put it like this. Don't miss the potential blessing in the tough times you face. Don't waste the opportunities of growth and discovery that often come out of sufferings.

I challenge you to live with this great text, Philippians 3:10, for a while. I pray that these three pursuits might become your pursuits. You will live on a new plateau. You will be enriched.

Be encouraged,

Lareau Lindquist

Founder, Senior Associate

LEL:dpc