The Fellowship of His Suffering
Key Thought | We often long for the power of His resurrection, but true intimacy with Jesus also requires knowing Him in the fellowship of His suffering.
Key Scripture | “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” – Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Many of us want to know the power of His resurrection, but we don’t always want to know Him in the fellowship of His suffering. I read this verse earlier this week, and I was struck by its truth. Paul counted it joy to suffer for the cause of Christ. And when I saw that, it stirred many questions in me. The loudest realization was simple: I’m not sure I signed up for that. I don’t remember that being included in the “salvation guide” when I accepted Christ as a young person.
What’s even more interesting about Paul’s journey is that before Christ, he was a persecutor of Christians and an enemy of the gospel. His life was easy. He was educated, respected, and admired. But after his conversion, after meeting Jesus, that’s when everything went downhill in the natural. Yet Paul discovered something worth more than his comfort. He discovered Jesus.
The last few years of ministry have brought many challenges and frustrations. In some ways, they’ve been the most fruitful. In other ways, the most disappointing. I’ve wanted to quit, do something else, and even run away. Through this tough season, I realized that my motivation for doing ministry had drifted. It was only a little off, but that “little off” had massive effects on my heart.
I knew Jesus, but I wasn’t deepening my relationship with Him. I had begun working for Him instead of abiding in Him. When the hard moments came, doubt filled my heart instead of confidence in Christ. I wanted the resurrection, but I didn’t know Him well enough to be okay with “the fellowship of His suffering.”
This season has been one of surrender, of making my sole goal in both ministry and life simply to know Him. Not just the parts of Jesus that feel powerful or victorious, but all of Him.
I’m still on that journey. There are still moments I want to walk away or do something different. But I can honestly say this now: I have found Him to be good enough to suffer with.
Prayer | Jesus, thank You for inviting me into every part of who You are – not just Your power, but also Your suffering. Teach me to abide in You, not just work for You. Align my heart, refine my motives, and deepen my relationship with You in every season, especially the difficult ones. Help me count it joy to walk with You, even in the hard places. Amen.
Reflection | What could it look like for me to know Jesus more deeply, not just in victory, but in suffering, and how might that reshape my faith?
Key Scripture | “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” – Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Many of us want to know the power of His resurrection, but we don’t always want to know Him in the fellowship of His suffering. I read this verse earlier this week, and I was struck by its truth. Paul counted it joy to suffer for the cause of Christ. And when I saw that, it stirred many questions in me. The loudest realization was simple: I’m not sure I signed up for that. I don’t remember that being included in the “salvation guide” when I accepted Christ as a young person.
What’s even more interesting about Paul’s journey is that before Christ, he was a persecutor of Christians and an enemy of the gospel. His life was easy. He was educated, respected, and admired. But after his conversion, after meeting Jesus, that’s when everything went downhill in the natural. Yet Paul discovered something worth more than his comfort. He discovered Jesus.
The last few years of ministry have brought many challenges and frustrations. In some ways, they’ve been the most fruitful. In other ways, the most disappointing. I’ve wanted to quit, do something else, and even run away. Through this tough season, I realized that my motivation for doing ministry had drifted. It was only a little off, but that “little off” had massive effects on my heart.
I knew Jesus, but I wasn’t deepening my relationship with Him. I had begun working for Him instead of abiding in Him. When the hard moments came, doubt filled my heart instead of confidence in Christ. I wanted the resurrection, but I didn’t know Him well enough to be okay with “the fellowship of His suffering.”
This season has been one of surrender, of making my sole goal in both ministry and life simply to know Him. Not just the parts of Jesus that feel powerful or victorious, but all of Him.
I’m still on that journey. There are still moments I want to walk away or do something different. But I can honestly say this now: I have found Him to be good enough to suffer with.
Prayer | Jesus, thank You for inviting me into every part of who You are – not just Your power, but also Your suffering. Teach me to abide in You, not just work for You. Align my heart, refine my motives, and deepen my relationship with You in every season, especially the difficult ones. Help me count it joy to walk with You, even in the hard places. Amen.
Reflection | What could it look like for me to know Jesus more deeply, not just in victory, but in suffering, and how might that reshape my faith?
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