TO KNOW HIM

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

Paul, who by the world’s standards, had everything going for him: prestige, money, power and influence. He was the leader of leaders, rule keeper and enforcer, confident in his mission of serving God. Yet, after an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damacus, realized he had nothing of value apart from Jesus. He could serve God all he wanted, but knowing God personally would be impossible because the only way truly to the Father, was through His Son, Jesus!

Meeting Jesus for the first time, changed his whole paradigm. It wasn’t knowing about God from scripture or the rules laid forth, it was about knowing his Son. Relationship! Fellowship! To know the Son, was to know the Father.

I love how marriage is meant to model the intimacy and relationship between Christ and the church. As flawed humans, we don’t always see that playing itself out, but that is the desire of God, working through our lives to model Christ love to those around us.

We wonder how can we live in such a way as to make the greatest impact on others for Jesus? First, let the work begin in us. Paul said I want to “know” Christ. Do we “know” him or only know about him? Like in a marriage, especially one that has seen its share of triumphs and failures, joys and sadness. Over time that relationship deepens where one look can speak a thousand words or when words won’t come, the other can finish a sentence because the two have become one in thought, goals, hopes, dreams and love. You don’t have to wonder what the other likes or dislikes, because you already know. You don’t have to wonder what would bring them joy, when they can no longer speak, because you know them through and through. That is what Jesus wants for us with Him. That we would KNOW Him! That we would pursue Him (seek him with ALL our heart) as He pursued us.

No relationship will flourish when it must compete with the world’s distractions; whether it be through technology, fame, fortune or busyness. Paul even said he considered it all rubbish (trash) in comparison to knowing Christ.

In a consumer driven world, we are often no more than its recycling center, wading through all the world throws out at us, trying to turn the world’s trash into our treasure. All the while, the real treasure awaits on the sidelines, for us to attempt to wash ourselves from a day at the recycling center to be presentable enough to spend a spare moment reading our bible, before returning to our regularly scheduled activities.

What can we possibly offer the world if it comes from the same scrap yard of the world’s own throw-outs? Only through an intimate life with Christ, forged in the fire of sharing in His sufferings can we truly speak with firsthand knowledge of Christ, because we spent time with Him, relied on Him and trust Him. He is the One we know and not the one we JUST read about. Him in me and me in Him.