I’ve known a lot about God my whole life but there was a point that I came to know Him on a deeper level. As humans, most of us are aware of the existence of a higher power and see the evidence of God at work in the world around us. We try to gain access to Him through following rules or doing rituals. Rules are not inherently bad, nor are rituals- many are very important to maintaining connection to God.
But, as we develop a relationship with God, our hearts get connected to Him in a more personal way. As a person who has been married for decades, I can say that the level of how I knew my spouse the day we got married is nothing like the depth that we experience now. What has changed? Time, proximity and intentional connection. The same can be true about growing in relationship with God.
Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Knowing the Power of Christ
Knowing the power that comes from Christ’s resurrection gives us the power to face the future. Even in the face of death, Jesus looked forward to and has His thoughts fixed in heaven. There is a hope in the resurrection that the end is not the end. This isn’t to say that there are only good things out there for us to look forward to; it is more than that, it’s the power to face the future with the expectation of being in relationship with God- that He will not leave us or abandon us. I want to know that He has me and that what I perceive as the end is not the true end.
Knowing the Passion of Christ
Watching others suffer or to be in suffering is not a goal of mine and especially I do not want to cause anyone else to suffer. But the idea of “participating in his suffering” is different, I want to have the perspective of Christ on suffering. Maybe what Paul is saying here is that we should want to be conformable to Christ who suffered as a sacrifice to give everything that he had. If this means that I have something more to give or that I can help and encourage others, let me understand how my suffering fits in with God’s purpose. I want to share in the suffering of Christ, as a sacrifice.
Knowing the Person of Christ
When I meet someone that I want to get to know better, I make time to hang out with them, have lunch with them and if I really want to know someone, I plan a trip with them or go camping on horseback with them. Spending time with a person is a great way to get to know what matters to them. Likewise, it is a wonderful thing to read and study about Jesus but spending time with Him is key. Prayer is the main way that I do this- continuously talking with Him about whatever I am doing or wherever I am going; but not just talking, also taking the time to listening to Him! His voice isn’t always auditable but pay attention to the impressions that pop in your heart and the things that brings you peace. He will guide you to what is important and valuable. Develop an ongoing, open ended conversation with God that isn’t limited to set of minutes or time or place. Let God hang out with you all the time because as you do, you will develop trust in His voice and presence in your life.
Knowing Jesus is an ongoing process. He doesn’t change, but I do. This is a purpose to wake up for, we all have goals and things that matter in our lives but join with me (and Paul) in saying that “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
