Share in All to Receive All

Receiving something from someone is something that I am sure that we all enjoy. Getting a check in the mail, the neighbor brings over a pie to welcome you to the neighborhood, an unexpected free item thanking you for your purchase, or that shout-out from a colleague are all pretty cool.

“¹¹that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” – Philippians 3:11 (ESV)

See the words written by Paul stating that “by any means possible” we would like those things to come about. I will admit that receiving those things are nice and whereas I believe I am willing to do almost anything to receive them, am I really willing to truly pay the price? Am I willing to suffer in all to receive it all?

“¹⁰that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” – Philippians 3:10 (ESV)

Receiving something is nice and certainly something that I am willing to do. I will take my spoils and run to the bank, tell those around me, and exclaim on high, but am I really willing to work for it? What did I do to “deserve” that reward? Was I willing to suffer through the bad times and work my way through the adversity to receive it?

I have been given the gift of salvation, which is the ultimate gift. I have received it fully and am grateful that I will receive my reward in heaven as a culmination of that gift. But I have work to do here yet. God has me here for a reason and I am obligated to fulfill that reason and complete my tasks.

It will not be easy and I will likely suffer whether physically, emotionally, personally, or financially. I should be taking the same approach as Paul, knowing that it is for the spreading of the gospel and not personal. My suffering is necessary for me to fully share in the suffering of Christ even up to His death on the cross.

In order for me to fully receive the blessings from Christ, I must share in the suffering, the difficulty, the adversity, and all else that comes with being a child of God. Even as I have received the gifts from God, to enjoy them, I must do the work which includes suffering to understand more what Christ gave for me.

When you look at your receipts, have you really done the work for them? Have you embraced the work still needed? Are you willing to share in the suffering of Christ as you receive your gift of salvation?