That I may know Him
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Whenever a celebrity is being talked about, many people would sort to know who the personality is, some people might even carryout a detailed study about the person's life just for the purpose of knowing who he/she is.
Christ is our model, our celebrity whom we Christians chose to believe in, if so then He is what He claims to be, being the saviour, deliverer, powerful and miracle working God, then our greatest desire is to know Him. Every other desire pales insignificance to this one.
What is the greatest desire of a Christian? Throughout Scripture, the great men and women of God say that their passion is to truly know Him. Moses says to God: "I pray You show me Your glory" (Exodus 33:18). David prays: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God" (Psalm 42:1). And Paul says that his heart longs to "know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10). The greatest desire of a true Christian is to know God. Every other desire pales in significance to this one.
Did you know that it’s possible to be a Christian and not really know God? John 14:8-9 tells us that Phillip, after following Jesus for a number of years, says to Him, "Lord, show us the Father." And Jesus replied, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me?"
To "KNOW" may not be the understanding of what we thought, it’s not referring to a merely intellectual exercise. Knowing God does not mean knowing facts about God. To know God is not just reciting His biblical resume or hearing testimony of what He has done in someone else’s life. Knowing God involves encountering Him and finding out that He is who He says He is.
It might seem surprising that Paul says he wants to know God in Philippians 3:10; after all, he knew all about God from his intense training in the Law and his stature in the Jewish community.
In Philippians 3:4-7, Paul explains that he met all the religious qualifications of the day, and he was at the apex of Jewish leadership. Paul knew all about God, but Paul did not know God until he met Jesus face to face on the road to Damascus. Paul’s life changed because God revealed Himself to Paul, not because Paul had all the right answers. That’s why Paul says we should have no "confidence in the flesh" (v. 3).
In order to truly know God, Paul says: "Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ" (v. 7). Paul had to be willing to turn his back on his human accomplishments in order to gain knowledge of Christ. He continues: "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (v. 8).
Paul uses the present tense verb "count" here, indicating that this is occurring in his life at the time of his writing. This shows us that even after the moment of his salvation, Paul continues to put the things of the world far below his priority of knowing Jesus Christ. This is an example of sanctification-what started at the cross with salvation continues to influence the way we live. Christ becomes a Christian’s greatest passion; knowing Him is the Christian’s number one priority
Have you known Christ yet?, have you encountered Him? Being named with Christ does not mean knowing Him, Judas was with Christ day and night yet, he doesn't know Him neither does he know the power of resurrection that gives salvation which christ had first preached.
Desire to know God, desire to have an encounter with Him, only then can you know the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering that brings salvation.
God bless you
*Prayer key:*
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name
2. Lord, help me to know you in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, give me the grace to desire your knowledge daily in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen..