"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death." Phillipians 3:10

The bond we feel with one who has shared with us in our suffering is special. Somehow, by sharing that pain with another, our pain is eased; we feel better knowing we are understood and cared about. The things Jesus suffered in his short lifetime give us a taste of why He knows what we are going through. He was misunderstood by his family. He was falsely accused by the religious leaders of his day. He was betrayed by a friend, with a kiss. In his hour of need, he was deserted and left to experience intense emotional pain alone. He was rejected, humiliated, physically abused and eventually put to death in agonizing pain. All that we suffer, Jesus understands. When we share our suffering with Him, we share sweet fellowship with Him because He knows our pain. There comes a point in our suffering when the pain becomes so intense that we must surrender to it or it will consume us. When self dies, and all that matters is knowing Christ, it is then that we taste of the resurrection power. For this same power that raised Jesus from the dead is given us to work in our lives. We are able to face the worst that life offers and be victorious through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will see us through. He knows and understands. He will give us the strength to overcome. May we never lose the desire to know Him, to experience the resurrection power in our own lives. Let us share in sweet fellowship with our loving Savior, for in doing this we will become more and more like Him.

Father, may the power that raised Jesus from the dead take hold of us and transform us into his image. Let us never lose sight of the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. Thank You for this gift. Jesus, we thank you for the fellowship that we share with you because you came to this earth and suffered and died for us. It is a sweet and binding fellowship that we never want to take for granted. Help us to live like you lived that others might look at us and say, "Indeed, they have walked with Jesus.” Amen