Bryan's Blog

Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

There are many promises in the Bible that we like to reflect on. For example, the promise that God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). These are among the many encouraging promises found in the Bible. But there are other promises that I call the “Forgotten Promises of God”. These include Jesus’ promise that in this life we will have trouble (John 16:33) and that if we follow him we will be persecuted (John 15:20). In Philippians 3:10 Paul states that he wants to know Christ in a way that can only be known by “sharing in his sufferings”. I don’t know about you but the promise to know Christ better as we share in His sufferings is not the first promise of the Bible that I like to meditate on. However as you pass through painful seasons in your life, it will comfort you to know that the God you love and serve has also suffered and you will know Him more intimately as you “share in his sufferings”. Be encouraged to know that you will share an even closer bond with God as you draw near to Him during seasons of hardship and persecutions. “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Corinthians 1:5) And just remember, the sunrise is always more beautiful after a storm has passed through.