Desperate to Know Jesus
Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:7-12
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection ... Philippians 3:10
Relationships require hard work. If I want to know my wife, I'll spend as much time as possible with her. If I don't spend time with my children, I know that my relationship with them will suffer, and they will not want to spend time with me. Relationship building takes hours of listening, talking, watching, and sacrifice.
What about our relationship with Jesus? Do we settle for a passing acquaintance or a deeply personal relationship with him? Paul wanted to know Jesus in every way possible. He was not interested in a surface relationship with Jesus. He wanted to know Jesus from a radically different point of view by dying to self and being raised to live the Jesus life. Jesus gets into our inner life through suffering. Paul knew that losing himself would be a loss. But he also knew that gaining a deeper picture of Jesus and experiencing intimacy with him could not hold a candle to the world's pleasures.
To know Christ, we must spend time with him. To experience his risen power means giving up our own lives. To share in his sufferings means to gain Christ. What more could we ask for than to become like Jesus in all things?
Paul knew that he had not become perfect, but he pressed "on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold" of him. Are you doing that as well?
<p>Lord Jesus, by your power, make us desperate to know you and eager to spend time with you. Help us to strengthen our relationship with you. </p><p>In your name we pray. Amen.</p>
About the author — Reginald Smith
Dr. Reginald Smith is senior pastor at Roosevelt Park Community Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has served for seventeen years. He has also served as a pastor in Paterson, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Janelle, Katrina, and Mariah.
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