Joni And Friends 10 March 2024 Devotional Message
Joni and Friends 10 March 2024 Devotional Sunday Message. As you study today’s devotional, remember this; “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
TOPIC: All I Care For
“All I care for is to know Christ, to experience the power of his resurrection, and to share in his sufferings, in growing conformity with his death.” – Philippians 3:10
Paul writes, “All I care for is to know Christ.” Yes, we agree with the apostle. We’d like to know Jesus better, to be on good terms with him. “All I care for is…to experience the power of his resurrection.” Absolutely! Who wouldn’t want the Lord’s power in his or her life? “All I care for is…to share in his sufferings.” Uh, sure. I guess tough times in moderate doses isn’t all that bad; we all need a good soul-scrubbing now and then. “All I care for is…growing conformity with his death.” Wait a minute; not so fast. Like, martyrdom? Chronic pain? Rejection and abuse? I really don’t care to know Christ that badly, we silently admit to ourselves.
Most of us would love to experience the sort of closeness the apostle Paul enjoyed with Jesus. We would love to have his faith and strength of character. We yearn to live that nobly, speak that boldly, fight our vices that manfully. And who wouldn’t want to have prayers answered as Paul did? But to know Christ is always a personal invitation to suffer with Christ. No one enters the Lord’s intimate fellowship without first entering his fellowship of suffering. Paul knew this, but it did not deter him. The sweetness of communion with Christ far, far outweighs the sufferings.
Don’t be deterred from your desire to know Christ. In your quest, the Lord promises he will never give you trials that, without his enabling, you cannot handle. He wants you to have a deep knowledge of himself, and he knows just how much—and no more—it takes to press you to his side.
I want to know you, Christ. I realize that will mean hardships and headaches, but knowing you—really knowing you—is worth it.
READ MORE TOPICS: OPEN HEAVENS, OUR DAILY BREAD, IN TOUCH, SEEDS OF DESTINY, STREAMS OF JOY, JOEL OSTEEN, MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, DCLM DAILY MANNA, UCB WORD FOR TODAY