Fellowship of Christ's SufferingsSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: The pride of life in a man draws him away from the love of God and slowly drags him into sin. But when you determine to partake in the fellowship of Christ's sufferings, you will be transformed into Christ's own image. Today, the pride of life corrupts the hearts of many men and women. When one claims saying, "I can manage everything by myself. I have the wisdom, courage and power in me. I will work hard and achieve everything on earth. The work that I do is my God." This is the pride of life.
We read in the New Testament about a person named Judas, a disciple of Jesus whom Jesus trusted (Mark 14:10; John 12:6). One day, Jesus and his disciples sat down for supper in the house of Martha and Mary. Mary brought a costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. When Judas saw what Mary did, he said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (John 12:5). It was the pride of life in Judas that made him say that.
Jesus rebuked and asked him not to trouble Mary who poured her love on Him. Judas was not satisfied. He left the place immediately. Perhaps he might have said to himself, "All the money is with me. Yet Jesus has disgraced me before these people." Such thoughts might have brought pride into his heart. So, he despised Jesus and at once satan entered him (John 13:27). He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Alas! in the end, he went and hanged himself (Acts 1:16-18).
The pride of life is sure to bring ruin in the end. The devil and the world may appreciate and tell you, "You are a great and a talented person. You have so much wisdom." But this world and all its attractions are perishable. When physical strength and earthly wisdom departs from you, you will be disappointed and frustrated. Before it happens, look up to the Lord Jesus and He will grant you all the blessings.
"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)
Jesus asked His disciples, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ" (Mark 8:29). Jesus then began to teach His disciples that the Son of Man must suffer. He should be arrested, beaten and spat upon and that none would come forward to help Him; that He should experience all the sufferings of mankind in His own body. Peter then took Him aside and told Him that He who had all power on earth in His hand should talk so. He tried thereby to stir the pride in Jesus. At once Jesus rebuked Peter saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8:33).
When you draw close to Jesus, your faith will be severely tested. "The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). In the end, you will surely come out as precious gold.
In my own life, I passed through so many trials and tribulations. A strange fear would grip me as soon as I rise up every morning. I would then ask myself in fear and dismay, "What is the suffering that is kept in store for me today? Will the Lord take my father as He took away my sister? Will I forfeit my ministry? Jealous people are maligning the ministry for no reason. What will happen to 'Jesus Calls' ministry and the 'Karunya Educational Project', which the Lord has entrusted into our hands?" Everyday I pass through travails.
We are here to experience not only the praises and honours of this world but also its pains and perils. That is the "fellowship of His sufferings."
Dear friend, in your pride you might say that you can do everything by yourselves. But when all of a sudden problems arise in your life, you will falter and fall, ignorant of how to overcome them. But when you pass through the "fellowship of His sufferings", your strength will be renewed each day. In the end, you will emerge as gold and be transfigured as Jesus Christ.
"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
The more we have problems in our lives, the more we come to know and experience the power of God and His blessings abound in our lives and our ministry. We are being transfigured to the image of Jesus Christ.
Our gracious Lord Jesus has overcome all your problems on the cross. He will surely give you the victory. Jesus Christ, through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God (Hebrews 9:14). When you pass through fiery ordeals, the Spirit of God will fight for you and transform you to the image of Jesus Christ. He will grant you a permanent abode in heaven.
Dear friend, will you also say like St.Paul, "I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:8-11)
May the Lord grant you His grace to overcome all your problems!
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Many a time, I fell for the pride of life and sought the unreliable things which made me go astray from Your everlasting love and compassion. Forgive me, Father. Accept me and make me Your beloved child. Sanctify me and transform me into a completely new person. I give you all the glory. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |