Phil 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Col 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (NIV)

Set your minds on things above

 AD (Latin anno domini, “in the year of our Lord”) and BC (before Christ).

Eph 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

It seems like more and more people have lost something about this most important event.

We all (Christians) believed that this happened over 2000 years ago. We all understand al least from the Bible why this was important.

But the real question for us as believers “does this make a difference in my life now?”  How does this relate to my life on daily basis?

• Probably the mistake we all make is to think that believing in the resurrection of Christ was something that we did to get saved, a sort of ticket to get into the show and after we get our stamp it’s recorded, we can go on with our lives as usual.

But is this really what it’s all about? No!

Philippians 3:10 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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. NIV

• Paul talked about a knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection. Why would I want this and why would I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death.

• Let me phrase it another way. “I want to really know Christ, become one with him so that when I am dying (daily) I can have his power to resurrect me, when I am suffering I can get my eyes off of myself and walk in love to the very end.”

• I know by experience that when I am going through really hard, dry times, it is not enough to know about Christ, I need to know him, be connected to him.

• It is not enough to know about his power, I need his power to lift me up when I don’t have the power to rise myself.

• I need to experience that that my sufferings are not pointless and that I don’t have to go through them alone.

• And to reach my destined goal of selflessness. Jesus said no greater love...than to lay down your life…

But that’s not all, Paul said “so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead”.

Does he mean we have to earn our resurrection? I don’t think so! Jesus also said in order to find our life we have to lose it.  

• What he is challenging us to do is to live as if we were already resurrected from the dead, free from the hold and fear of death that feeds selfishness.

Romans 6:5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. NIV

So we can see resurrection is not a one time thing it is our lifestyle, with his help I can live as if I were already resurrected by being connected with Christ, experiencing his power, going through the suffering and dying daily with him.

Heavenly Father, I am so far away from living like this, but I know this is my path that you have for me. Help me make the steps in this direction. I want to know Jesus more and walk with him even to the daily cross that I am to pickup and carry. Let me know your resurrection power and a life free from sin. Thank you for loving me so much. AMEN.