“Yet indeed 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, if by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:8-11
Father, as we say goodbye to another year and look toward a new year full of hope and promise, our thoughts ponder what was left behind last year and what is new to come for this year. Lord, it hurts when we suffer loss, but we are confident of the hope we have in you. Lord, we ask for your resurrection power in our lives. Resurrect what needs a resurrection in our lives this year, and what needs to remain dead, let it be. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.
Through Jesus Christ we have the hope of resurrection power. In Romans 8:11 we are told the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in us. That truth is potent. To say we want to experience resurrection power and the same power that raised Christ from the dead in our lives is a healthy and positive desire. However, for me personally, I hadn’t given much thought to what that really means.
Before there can be a resurrection, two things must happen. These two things are not pleasant and do not hold the same longing and desiring as the promise and glory of resurrection. These two things are suffering and death.
In the verses above, Philippians 3:8-11, Paul says he suffered the loss of all things. Wow. All. Things. He walked in great power and authority, but we must not ever think we can walk in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ without also partaking in His sufferings and even death to much of ourselves.
The cost was colossal for Paul, but the gain was greater. He gained Christ and found the truth of righteousness found in Him alone, not of himself, which is from the law. Through sufferings, Paul discovered the power of His resurrection.
Well, all that sounds good until you live it.
When we go through a suffering, there are things within us that die that need to die. Hidden sins emerge and there is a cutting off of old unhealthy patterns that need to be cut away for new life to blossom.
1 Peter 5:10 says, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
What a beautiful promise, like a rainbow after the rain. The rain will end, and in its place will be a covering of beauty.
The process of suffering and death to self will produce beauty and the promise of resurrection power will revive all that needs to be restored. What is resurrected is always better than before. Lazarus went into the grave sick but was resurrected with full health and wellness. Jesus was resurrected into glory.
As we begin this new year, may we have this hope and confidence, that our Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. He breathes new life. Those parts of us that needed to die, may they remain dead. Those parts that need His resurrection power, I am believing with you for new life and beauty. Amen!