Knowing Christ: More Than Just Familiarity
Philippians 3:7-10
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death
I love this passage for a couple of reasons, but primarily because of its simplicity. As followers of Christ, our number one focus should be to know Christ—not just in an "I'm familiar with Him" sort of way, but in a deeper, more intimate, and connected way. Think about the relationships you have in your life. They range from casual acquaintances to those you would move heaven and earth to be with. These two extremes are very different.
On one side, you might talk to someone in passing at the grocery store. On the other side, there are people you consider to be like family—those who hold priority in your time and life. In between, there are those with whom you try to keep in touch when it's convenient. If something significant happens in their life, you might reach out. Or, if you cross paths and have the time, you'll grab a coffee or a meal together.
In the past, my relationship with Jesus was similar. It wasn’t until I made the decision to prioritize knowing Jesus intimately that I realized just how foundational and transformative that decision was. For years, I struggled with thinking I had to earn my relationship with God through good deeds. I thought the better I behaved, the closer I would be to Him. And if I messed up, I assumed I was further from God. But that’s not what Philippians 3 teaches.
In verse 9, Paul says, "…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." This tells us that it is through faith in Christ—through His suffering, death, and resurrection—that we have a relationship with God. It has nothing to do with our own righteousness. Paul even says in verse 8 that he considers everything—his own accomplishments, his pride, the good things he's done—garbage, compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Without Christ, we have nothing; with Christ, we have everything.
This passage makes it clear that knowing Christ—truly knowing Him—is worth more than anything we could achieve or accumulate on our own. But how do we accomplish this? The answer is both simple and difficult.
The simple answer is to prioritize time with God every day. Spend time in His Word, listen to worship music, pray, or simply sit in solitude, listening and being still in His presence. The hard part is that life often gets in the way. We can also get in our own way, bogged down by our own religious performance or by being too hard on ourselves. But the truth is, God just wants to be with us. He longs for restored relationship with His creation, and the beautiful thing is that through the finished work of Christ on the cross, that restoration is already available to us. We just need to accept it.
REFLECTION:
What am I prioritizing over spending time in God’s presence? For me, it was sleeping and staying up late.
What’s a realistic starting point for me to start spending more time with Jesus? Think incremental changes that are sustainable.
Is there anything that is inside of me that might be getting in the way of a closer relationship with God? Is there pride in my life? Unforgiveness? A religious mindset?
PRAYER:
God, I want to know You more. Open my eyes and help me to see You rightly. Holy Spirit, reveal any hidden lies or obstacles that are getting in the way of knowing You. Show me things that I need to lay at Your feet for the sake of knowing You.
Now, take some time and get quiet and see what God says.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death
I love this passage for a couple of reasons, but primarily because of its simplicity. As followers of Christ, our number one focus should be to know Christ—not just in an "I'm familiar with Him" sort of way, but in a deeper, more intimate, and connected way. Think about the relationships you have in your life. They range from casual acquaintances to those you would move heaven and earth to be with. These two extremes are very different.
On one side, you might talk to someone in passing at the grocery store. On the other side, there are people you consider to be like family—those who hold priority in your time and life. In between, there are those with whom you try to keep in touch when it's convenient. If something significant happens in their life, you might reach out. Or, if you cross paths and have the time, you'll grab a coffee or a meal together.
In the past, my relationship with Jesus was similar. It wasn’t until I made the decision to prioritize knowing Jesus intimately that I realized just how foundational and transformative that decision was. For years, I struggled with thinking I had to earn my relationship with God through good deeds. I thought the better I behaved, the closer I would be to Him. And if I messed up, I assumed I was further from God. But that’s not what Philippians 3 teaches.
In verse 9, Paul says, "…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." This tells us that it is through faith in Christ—through His suffering, death, and resurrection—that we have a relationship with God. It has nothing to do with our own righteousness. Paul even says in verse 8 that he considers everything—his own accomplishments, his pride, the good things he's done—garbage, compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Without Christ, we have nothing; with Christ, we have everything.
This passage makes it clear that knowing Christ—truly knowing Him—is worth more than anything we could achieve or accumulate on our own. But how do we accomplish this? The answer is both simple and difficult.
The simple answer is to prioritize time with God every day. Spend time in His Word, listen to worship music, pray, or simply sit in solitude, listening and being still in His presence. The hard part is that life often gets in the way. We can also get in our own way, bogged down by our own religious performance or by being too hard on ourselves. But the truth is, God just wants to be with us. He longs for restored relationship with His creation, and the beautiful thing is that through the finished work of Christ on the cross, that restoration is already available to us. We just need to accept it.
REFLECTION:
What am I prioritizing over spending time in God’s presence? For me, it was sleeping and staying up late.
What’s a realistic starting point for me to start spending more time with Jesus? Think incremental changes that are sustainable.
Is there anything that is inside of me that might be getting in the way of a closer relationship with God? Is there pride in my life? Unforgiveness? A religious mindset?
PRAYER:
God, I want to know You more. Open my eyes and help me to see You rightly. Holy Spirit, reveal any hidden lies or obstacles that are getting in the way of knowing You. Show me things that I need to lay at Your feet for the sake of knowing You.
Now, take some time and get quiet and see what God says.
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