What do you really, really want?

I have this posted on my wall: “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, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” That’s what Paul says in Philippians 3:10-11.

The first part is easy to desire: knowing Christ, knowing the power of his resurrection. Those are great things.

But then comes “the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,” and “becoming like him in his death.” That’s different. That’s harder to want.

I want comfort and friendship, deep conversations and meaningful prayers, good times watching great movies and having people over for dinner, going on trips and experiencing new things, reading Till We Have Faces and listening to Barber’s Violin Concerto. I’m not so sure about sharing in Christ’s sufferings. I’m not looking forward to becoming like him in his death. Maybe that’s just Paul’s deal.

I hear a lot of people claim a different verse from Philippians as a favorite: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (that’s Philippians 4:13). That’s easier to get into. Of course, when Paul said he could “do everything”, he was talking about living in comfort or living in need, “whether well fed or hungry.” He could endure difficulty through strength that comes from Christ.

And so maybe through Christ, through his transforming power within me, I can desire to know him and identify with him completely. I can desire to know his resurrection power—and desire to know and share in his sufferings.

Hebrews says that Christ endured his sufferings “for the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). He didn’t relish the suffering; he endured it—for the joy of conquering sin and death and securing our salvation. And that’s what Paul was looking at, too. He wanted to be a part of what Christ was doing.

So the question comes to us: do we want to fully identify with Christ that way? Do we want to be a part of what he’s doing? Even at the cost of suffering—but knowing that there is great joy to come?