I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! Philippians 3:10–11 (NLT)
There is an element of sacrifice to fulfilling the purposes God has for your life.
It can be hard to focus on what God wants you to do, especially when your needs are crying out for attention. That’s the sacrifice I’m talking about—and it’s what Paul was talking about in our verse today. You and I are to share in Jesus’ death by putting our self-focus to death.
It’s not that God wants you to suffer. It might seem more painful in the short-term to think of others instead of only what you need. But God knows that if you only stay focused on yourself—your marriage, your family and your career—it will bring you greater, long-term pain. You’ll never regret putting God first, because that’s the best way to get your needs met anyhow!
If you want to really know Jesus, you have to understand His sufferings as well as His power. You can’t just be interested in being blessed; you need to really understand what Jesus valued most: people. Jesus wants you to live a life full of blessings and fun…but make sure your heart remains so soft that you can’t ignore the suffering of others.
Love life and live big—that’s one way you attract others to this kind of life—but don’t forget to look around and take everyone you can with you. Remember also that you won’t make it without spending time with God. With Him, there’s no telling how many lives will be changed.