The Only Way to Know Christ
The Only Way To Know Christ
Knowledge is everything. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is only important if you know the right things.
One of my favorite newer songs we sing in church is “Knowing Christ.” It was taken from Philippians 4:10. The entire passage says:
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
To know Him. Our pastor spoke on this verse the other day and we sang the song. I wondered, in my heart, do I still long for anything – above all things – to know Christ? All my life I rode the waves of feelings. Some seasons of my life I’ve felt close to God and had that natural desire to know Him better. Other times, I’ve had to fight to want to read my Bible, as it seemed dry and empty.
No matter the season, high or low, I don’t think I’ve ever dedicated time, effort or passion into knowing Christ. God as a whole, the Bible, yes. But Christ Jesus? As a person? As God? No. I had never done my own study of the Bible to find out who God is.
After being saved for almost thirty years I’ve never sought, above all, to know Christ. When I was a stranger, lost to God, Christ sought me. He bought me with His blood. I was like Saul, on the road running toward danger and in disobedience to God. Jesus stepped in, maybe without a flash of light, but with rejoicing in heaven in angelic fashion, my hope is in Jesus.
Shouldn’t my life be characterized by wanting to know Christ? Our pastor asked us in the congregation that Sunday: do you know Christ?
Do I ? Not really. Not like I should. My passion isn’t necessarily to “know Christ.” Maybe like you, I have many passions, but the greatest isn’t to know Christ.
I felt the conviction, sitting in that padded blue chair with my feet propped up on my footstool (side note: I’m super short, if you didn’t know). So this short-girl took a turn in her heart in that moment. I asked God to give me a passion to know Christ more deeply in 2018. My word is “entrust” and if I’m going to commit to care my heart, I’m going to have to know in Whom I trust.
Jesus Christ is spoken about in the entire Bible. It is my desire now, to know Him more fully in 2018. What does this mean? The only way I will know God is to read my Bible with purpose. Yes. I read my Bible everyday, but sometimes I only read it to check it off a list.
So. Its time for some change this year. There is nothing magical in Jan. 1. I can start today, seeking Jesus the only place He will be found: in the Bible.
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