September 24, 2002 (19)
THE CHRISTIANS < I AM >. One with Christ in all things, not only in the tremendous benefits that He daily bestows on us, but one with Him in His sufferings as well. I AM with Christ. I AM crucified with Him. Gal. 2:20 As with every natural seed, life springs from the process of the seed being buried, the act of dying, then germinating and ultimately spinging forth to life and the bearing of a crop. So it is in the spiritual. We are the seed. The promise of the Lord is that if we have been < planted together > in the waters of baptism that we shall also be one with Him in His life. Experiencing the glories of His resurrection for we have become one with Him. There is a high and holy place in the Lord Jesus where the child of the Lord may enter into the fullness of His life style. It requires a price that not too many are willing to pay. Nevertheless it is available to all who want to go beyond the ordinary. Rom. 6:5
I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS. This will be the goal of the last day church. A consecration and dedication that will exceed anything that we see today. Paul was willing to < COUNT ALL THINGS > as being totally destroyed that he might obtain the < EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE > of Christ. His vision involved a goal beyond the limitations of this life. He saw that completeness of life, which is available to all, in Christ. The losses he had suffered were inconsequential in comparison to that which he had gained in the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. 3:8 His aim was the righteousness that is found in the Lord Jesus. Not that which he had practiced under the Law, but the righteousness, of God, that is found in the faith of the Lord Jesus. A righteousness that is imputed by the knowledge of Christ. Before we can know the < power of His resurrection >, which is the ideal Christian life, we must fellowship, become one with Him in His sufferings. Being, conformed, made in the likeness of His death. Not a pleasant outlook for the natural, fleshly man. The carnal man would much more prefer to reject than to embrace such a divine call. The gain is so much greater than anything lost makes the loss immaterial. Phil. 3:10
I PRESS. May this become the determination of the whole of the church. There is a prize such as is offered no where else. Its value is immeasurable. It is not of this earth, therefore is eternal and everlasting. Those who would obtain this prize must be relentless in their pursuit. There is no limit that may be placed on the energy expended to acquire it. It is the highest award presented to the church of the Lord Jesus. Phil. 3:14 There is no position, in the eternity to come, that that which is given to the bride of Christ. A redeemed people, cleansed and washed in the blood of Christ. Brought to full and absolute maturity, in this world, by the ministry of the Word. Privileged to sit with Him in His throne. The workmanship of the Lord on display eternally. They are the show piece of the Lord. May indeed the revelation of the Lord accompany His Word. Phil. 3:15