I Want To Know Christ
by John Emery

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death.”  Philippians 3:10  (Better yet, read all of Chapter 3!)

Once I was comparing notes with a co-worker about the process by which we had obtained our jobs.  He told me that before his interview he had done extensive research through the public library, newspaper archives and even online to gain as much information as possible, not only about the agency, but even the people in charge of the hiring process, in order to gain any possible edge in getting the job.  He wanted to know as much as he could about the people who would have a significant influence over his future.  He believed, rightly as it proved, that knowing about the people he intended to serve would help him in the pursuit of his goal.

The career of Saul of Tarsus, the Pharisee and persecutor of the early Church, took a dramatic detour when he met the living Lord on the road to Damascus.  From that day on everything that he had previously built his life upon, all the accomplishments by which he defined himself, became meaningless.  From that day on all that mattered was building his relationship with Jesus Christ and knowing Him more completely so that he might serve Him better.  From that day on he would be known as Paul, the Apostle.

For us Christians living in the 21st Century, as for Paul in the 1st Century, there is no more important priority.  There is no aspect of our lives – spouses, parents, children, friends, employers, employees, co-workers, or members of a community of faith – that is not impacted by our relationship with Jesus, our awareness of what He has done on our behalf and our willingness to submit to His will.  Ravi Zacharias, in his book Jesus Among Other Gods, writes:

If we were to enumerate all our hungers, we might be surprised at how many legitimate hungers there are.  The hunger for truth, the hunger for love, the hunger for knowledge, the hunger to belong, the hunger to express, the hunger for justice, the hunger of the imagination, the hunger of the mind and the hunger for significance.  We could name more…Here is the point: Some of our individual pursuits may meet some of these hungers.  Education may bring knowledge.  Romance may bring a sense of belonging.   Accomplishments may bring significance.  Wealth brings some things within reach.  The message of Jesus affirms that no one thing will meet all of these hungers.  And furthermore, none can help us know whether the way we fulfill them is legitimate or illegitimate until we feed on the bread of life that Jesus offers.  That nourishment defines the legitimacy of all else.

Likely few of us will meet Jesus in as dramatic a fashion as Paul did.  But we can meet Him, and know Him, by studying His Word and conversing with Him regularly in prayer.  And if we do, and only if we do, we can define what is most important in life and determine our own courses of action by the only standard that has any real meaning.

Lord Jesus, help me to hunger for You more than anything else.  Give me such a hunger and thirst that only You will satisfy.  And as You fill me with Yourself, help me to grow deeper in my relationship with You and in my love toward others.   I ask this in Your name, AMEN.