“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10

What does it mean that “by any means possible?” Why is attaining the “resurrection from the dead” so important? That life…that crazy, glorious victorious, nothing-can-tear-me-down resurrection life can only come through following Jesus through any and everything.

If Jesus walked through down moments, who am I to think that I can avoid them? Why do I avoid them? Why am I afraid of them?

But Paul is different, he’s not just trying to avoid those moments, he sees those moments as intentional, purposeful, and longs for those opportunities in order to attain that which is on the other side of the suffering — resurrection.

The world wants other things by any means necessary. People are willing to sacrifice for it, good families, financial stability, world peace. All good things. But, Paul, knew what was the best reward most worth his suffering…to know Jesus in ALL things. Not just to become Christlike, but to KNOW Him…to know Him in all His moments — not just the suffering, not just the joy set before Him, but to know Him fully. And to know Him fully is to walk as He walked.

When I think about Jesus in heaven and everyone worshipping Him, declaring “Worthy, worthy, worthy,” the power, glory, authority, splendor, the experience of fully living in the love of the Father through his death on the Cross… it makes me understand Paul…a teeny tiny amount.

Lord, may I be able to understand and truly pray, that by any means possible, I want to experience the resurrection of the dead. It feels bold and bigger than I can comprehend. But it feels pretty important.

Let it be.