Bible League: Living His Word . . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. . .For the Apostle Paul, being a Christian means having an intimate, personal relationship to Jesus Christ. Christians are so closely connected to Jesus that he could say we have been "buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Thus, when Paul says that he wants to know Christ, it is not just an intellectual knowledge of who He was and what He did; it is to know what it means to be spiritually identified with Him at the most fundamental level. In our verse for today there are three aspects to this knowledge of Christ. First, he wants to know the power of Christ's resurrection. In this context, to know the power of Christ's resurrection does not refer primarily to the resurrection of our bodies that will occur when Christ returns, but to our spiritual resurrection from the deadness of sin into the life of righteousness through Christ. This resurrection power is a spiritual power that enables Christians to live and walk in newness of life in every area of life. We used to be spiritually dead, but now we are spiritually alive (Colossians 2:13). Second, he wants to share Christ's sufferings. This does not mean that Paul wants suffering to come his way, but when suffering comes to go through it the way Christ went through it. The disciple who has been spiritually resurrected willingly does what Christ said a disciple should do: "deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24). To know Christ is to also know what it means to suffer in order to fulfill the call of God. Finally, Paul wants to become like Him in His death. Paul is not saying that he wants martyrdom, but to go through it the way Christ went through it if it happens. The disciple who has been spiritually resurrected willingly goes through the ultimate act of surrender to God's call on his life should that be necessary. You have not just been buried with Christ. You have also been raised with Him. Today, rise up through the newness of life you have in Him, no matter what comes your way. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzra 6, 7, 8 Ezra 6 -- Decree of Darius; Temple Work Resumed; Dedication of the Temple; Passover Observed NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezra 7 -- Ezra Journeys to Jerusalem, Commissed by Artaxerxes NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezra 8 -- The Companions of Ezra; Treasure Delivered to the Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 21 John 21 -- The Miraculous Catch at the Sea of Galilee; "Feed my Sheep" NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.Insight Jesus performed some miracles as signs of his identity. He used other miracles to teach important truths. But here we read that he healed people because he “had compassion on them.” Jesus was, and is, a loving, caring, and feeling person. Challenge When you are suffering, remember that Jesus hurts with you. He has compassion on you. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Daniel 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face ... because we have sinned against thee.A deep sense and clear sight of sin, its heinousness, and the punishment which it deserves, should make us lie low before the throne. We have sinned as Christians. Alas! that it should be so. Favoured as we have been, we have yet been ungrateful: privileged beyond most, we have not brought forth fruit in proportion. Who is there, although he may long have been engaged in the Christian warfare, that will not blush when he looks back upon the past? As for our days before we were regenerated, may they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and against love--light which has really penetrated our minds, and love in which we have rejoiced. Oh, the atrocity of the sin of a pardoned soul! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply compared with the sin of one of God's own elect ones, who has had communion with Christ and leaned his head upon Jesus' bosom. Look at David! Many will talk of his sin, but I pray you look at his repentance, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them moans out its dolorous confession! Mark his tears, as they fall upon the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the softened music of his harp! We have erred: let us, therefore, seek the spirit of penitence. Look, again, at Peter! We speak much of Peter's denying his Master. Remember, it is written, "He wept bitterly." Have we no denials of our Lord to be lamented with tears? Alas! these sins of ours, before and after conversion, would consign us to the place of inextinguishable fire if it were not for the sovereign mercy which has made us to differ, snatching us like brands from the burning. My soul, bow down under a sense of thy natural sinfulness, and worship thy God. Admire the grace which saves thee--the mercy which spares thee--the love which pardons thee! Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 10:41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;Luke 12:24,27,29,30 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! • "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. • "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. • "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 1 Timothy 6:8-10 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. • But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. • For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Mark 4:19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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