Two primary ways in which we are privileged
May 2nd, 2021 – Communion Meditation
I’ve been thinking about the word “privilege” this week. It’s a word that’s been flung around in all kinds of contexts this past year, but I was trying to hone in on what God has to say about it.
Philippians 1:27-30a (NLT) – “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this struggle together.”
This passage highlights two primary ways in which we as followers of Christ Jesus are privileged. We have the privilege of trusting in Him. He is with us always, 24/7, wherever we are, whatever we’re going through. He’s not just present with us but He’s for us. To know Jesus is to have an intimate relationship with Him, and as we all know, the best and most important relationships of our lives are built on a foundation of trust. It’s a privilege to trust in Him.
This passage also tells us that we have the privilege of suffering for Jesus. Notice it’s not suffering because of our choices, suffering because of our preferences, suffering because of our inconveniences. Suffering for Jesus, which means that at times what He calls us to is going to take us in a direction that is countercultural. We will at times feel uncomfortable. We will at times feel anxious or afraid. We will at times feel alone. But the good news is that, as the passage concludes, “we are in this struggle together.” Jesus is in it with us. The entire body of Christ is in it with us. That’s the beauty of being part of a church family – you and you and you and you and I are in our struggles together with Jesus. We are never alone.
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, He took the bread and said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Again, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
