THIS ONE THING or
THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE MINDSET

" . . . Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus . . ." (Philippians 3:7-16)

Devotion 6 of 13

FELLOWSHIP AND CONFORMITY

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . . That I may know him . . . and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" The RSV reads, "share in His sufferings." The depth of spiritual experience to which we have been called is marvelous. We will find that the more grievous our experience in the flesh, the more profound will be our experience in the Spirit.

We participate in Christ's sufferings in two ways. First, by faith, we share in the effects of our Lord's vicarious, or substitutionary, suffering. That suffering eventuated in Him "tasting death for every man" (Heb 2:9). These are the "sufferings" foretold by the Prophets, which resulted in "the glory that should follow"--the glorious salvation of His people. However, there is another aspect to His sufferings in which we participate.

These are the sufferings that been left behind for us. As it is written, "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church" (Col 1:24). Other versions read "what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . . what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church" (NASB, NIV). These are the sufferings through which we are "conformed to the image of His Son" (Rom 8:29). In them, we learn the manner of the Kingdom, and qualify, as it was, to receive comfort.

Jesus "learned obedience by the things that He suffered" (Heb 5:8). These were not the sufferings of the cross, but those He experienced while living to God in a hostile world. Sufferings were the means through which He was made perfect, becoming the author of eternal salvation (Heb 5:9). When our Lord was tempted, He suffered, coming to the point where He had to be sustained from heaven (Heb 2:18). These are the sufferings Jesus "left behind" for us--a sampling, as it were, of Divine life. Peter referred to this when He wrote, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1 Pet 2:21 22).

There is a closeness to Christ in these sufferings than cannot be realized any other way. It is like the fellowship of the fourth man in the furnace of fire. Sweet succor is ministered that shines heaven and dulls the earth. It causes temptation and sin to be painful. As it is written, Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1 Pet 4:1). Fellowship in these sufferings is obtained to the degree we have His mind.

The objective of this frame of mind is arresting: "being made conformable unto His death." The value of this goal is clearly stated: "It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim 2:11). Spiritual life, then, depends upon the mortification of our members that are upon the earth (Col 3:5). It is only to the degree that natural life is subordinated that spiritual life can dominate. If we are not insensitive to this world, we cannot be sensitive to the world to come. Paul pressed to experience this more fully.

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You in Jesus' name for a salvation worth the forfeiture of this present evil world.

-- Tomorrow: ATTAINING TO THE RESURRECTION --