Read: Philippians 3:1-11
. . . by becoming like him in his death. (v. 10 NRSV)
“I want to know Christ” (v. 10 NRSV). It’s such a comforting statement—so much so that we can almost overlook the nail scars bored into his hands or the thorns carved upon his brow. But Paul won’t let us forget. “Do this,” he seems to say. “Come to know Christ”—“by becoming like him in his death” (v. 10).
I’m probably not the only one who feels like Paul’s words loom at me from the page. But let’s think about it this way. If you find yourself in a place of suffering, look for Christ. Christ is the suffering servant who empties himself, who descends and weeps and breaks and bleeds. And if you aren’t in a season of suffering, follow Christ to where the suffering is. Share in the sufferings of Christ by sharing in the suffering of others through a listening ear and an empathetic heart, through acts of service and generous giving.
What if Christians were the kind of people so captivated by Jesus Christ that we wanted to follow his way of living? What if we wanted to go to the places he went and enter humbly into the pain and hurt and suffering we find there? What kind of radical change would the world witness then? If we hope to draw our neighbors to Jesus, then let’s do that, not by beating them over the head with our Bibles, but by sharing in their struggles and offering Christ’s love and care.
As you pray, ask God to show you what places he’s calling you to go.
Co-authored by Rev. Jon Brown and Justin Kuiper.
Jon Brown is the lead pastor of Pillar Church in Holland, Michigan. Jon loves preaching and loves walking with people through all of life’s circumstances. He loves to invite people to follow Jesus in community on mission. Jon and his beloved wife, Kristyn, are the proud parents of four daughters.
Justin Kuiper is a student from Holland, Michigan, studying English literature at Hope College. His own writing explores the many intersections of faith, storytelling, and the created order.
