Knowing Christ

"[F]or I know whom I have believed…" "That I may know him…" Paul was willing to lose everything "for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus." Unlike so many Christians today, the apostle was not content with his initial knowledge of Christ, but, years later, was seeking a more intimate knowledge of Him. No true saint should be satisfied knowing about him, but knowing Him.

The lack of devotion to Jesus Christ in our day is the result of not really knowing Him; for to know Him is to love Him. Intellectual knowledge of Him is necessary, but far from complete. An intellectual head knowledge must sink into an emotional heart if our relationship to him is to be personal. A man's knowledge can be wide without being deep. Certainly, Jonathan Edwards knew theology better than John Bunyan, but he didn’t know God any better.

Jesus admonished, "Search the scriptures…they are they which testify of me." Peter tells us, if we are to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we need to be Bible beavers. The Lover's letter to His beloved should be well worn from reading it over and again, with tear stains on every page.

Make sure the God you know is not the god of this world, but rather, the God of the Word.