MUSINGS

“CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH”

One was affected afresh recently by the verse,

‘We show Thy death Lord Jesus,

And here would seek to be

More to Thy death conformed,

Whilst we remember Thee’. (Hymn 435)

Philippians 3 shows Paul’s deep inward longing ‘to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death’. If our affections have been won by Him who gave up everything for us, emptying Himself, humbling Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, we shall desire to bear the marks of His death. Paul says, “I bear in my body the brands of the Lord Jesus”, Galatians 6: 17. The word “brands” refers to the marks of ownership made by branding-irons on slaves. Paul was Christ’s bondman. The Christian is to manifest in His life that he belongs to a crucified, but glorified, Christ. All this must flow from what is inward—Christ enshrined in our hearts—but that must have obvious outward effects. It will be evident in our friendships, dress, adornment, conversation—our hair, in the case of women—that we are conformed to Christ’s death.

It is a great privilege to manifest our loyalty to our rejected Lord. How He values those who in love to Him happily follow in the path which He trod, a Stranger here, devoted to His Father’s will. And let us not forget the recompense—that any sacrifice brings compensating joy. No epistle is more marked by rejoicing than that to the Philippians, written from Rome by Paul while in prison.

FCM

Published by F. C. Mutton, 22 Christchurch Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4QY, England Printed by Crystal Stationery, 24 High Street, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9BQ, (T) (02774) 50661