Comment on 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."

Philippians 3:10

I was profoundly affected by this commentary on the above verse:

Many Christians are satisfied with expenditure in which there is no shedding of blood. They give away what they can easily spare. Their gifts are detached things and the surrender of them necessitates no bleeding. They engage in sacrifice as long as it does not involve life; when the really vital is demanded, they are not to be found. They are prominent at all triumphant entries and they willingly spend a little money on colorful decorations - on banners and palm branches - but when HURRAHS and HOSANNAS change into ominous murmurs and threats, and Calvary comes into sight, they steal away into safe seclusion. But here is an apostle who joyfully anticipates this supreme and critical demand. He is almost impatient at his own dribblings of blood-energy in the service of the kingdom! He is eager, if need be, to pace it out.

"The Lord Jesus became fruitful not by bearing His cross only but by dying on it..."

There are not two Christs - an easygoing Christ for easygoing Christians and the suffering, toiling Christ for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ.