October 2

Knowing Christ 

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 107:33-43 | Isaiah 66:1-24 | Philippians 3:4-21 | Proverbs 24:15-16

Today’s Scripture Focus: Philippians 3

“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.” (Philippians 3:10-11 NIV)

When it came to religious heritage, Paul had a lot of things going for him: He was a faithful Jew with good family connections, zealous for the law, a Pharisee who counted himself blameless. Yet, an encounter with Jesus forever altered his whole life and calling. So much so that he considered all his impressive religious credentials as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

An encounter with Jesus is a powerful thing. Have you come to know him?

Eternal life is found in a relationship with Christ that is entered into by faith in what Christ did for us on the Cross. The issue is not what we bring to the table, but what Jesus brings through the cross. Even Paul, who had considered himself faultless, saw his need for the righteousness that is by faith. Christ enters into the heart of the one who calls out to Him in faith and brings his righteousness and the gift of eternal life.

What Paul found in his relationship with Christ made him want to press in deeper and press on farther. “I want to know Christ . . . I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

He wanted to know Christ as intimately as one could possibly know him. In the victories, “in the power of his resurrection,” and in the difficult times: “the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.” Paul knew that some of the most intimate moments would come as he walked through trials with Christ, hand in hand.

Do you know Christ? Have you entered into a relationship with him. Have you received his gift of eternal life by grace through faith?

Are you pressing on to know Christ more deeply? Do you want to really know Him?

Lord Jesus, I want to know you deeply and intimately, through tough times and good times. May I draw my life and strength from you each and every day. I invite you into my life and receive your gift of life-eternal and abundant, life lived to the full. Walk with me this day, and from this point forth I pray. Amen.