Knowing

Text: Philippians 3:10-11

Theme: Knowing Christ was Paul’s highest priority–and should be ours.

Key verses: “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (v. 10-11).

What God said to me: Wake up! I am meeting with you. I, the Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, the Creator of all things, the King of kings, the Almighty God, want to commune with you, my child and servant. Like with Hezekiah in the Old Testament, I have extended your life, Dwayne. But unlike Hezekiah, don’t you waste these years. Draw into me even more, desperately seeking my face even more intensely. Seek to know me and follow me and obey me more consistently. Don’t settle for mediocrity in any part of your life. These extra years I loaned you are a gift for you to enjoy and invest into others. However, before you can help anyone else, you must be growing and gleaning from me, your True Vine. Paul was a highly successful Jew and citizen of Rome. He had many things going for him that others would envy. Yet, he counted them all as dung compared to knowing my Son. Note that he wanted to know Christ in every aspect of His fullness. He didn’t just want to experience Him in His resurrection power (as many do). Paul understood that Jesus went to great depths of despair and pain to purchase our salvation on the cross. Paul want to know Him and love Him more in this most horrific way as well. Paul loved Jesus period. He had no selfish ambition or ulterior motives. He wasn’t in the Christian life and business of following Christ for his own gain. He wanted only to please me and to be counted among those who rose from the dead to live and reign forever with Jesus Christ his Lord. Dwayne, I have loved you with an everlasting love. I continue to woo you and draw your heart toward me. That is my grace in action in your life–without which you would have no hope. I expect you to return my love by drawing closer to me and obeying my every directive. Love me even when no one is watching. See how close you can come to pleasing me more than you ever have before. Don’t just skate by, seeing what you can get away with. Rid yourself of all sinfulness and questionable actions and motives. Determine to know me at all costs necessary to your flesh, your dreams, your well-being, and your personal success.

What I said to God: Father, I adore You; lay my life before You; how I love You. Please forgive me for even yesterday taking my eyes off of You and seeking to please myself and cater to my sinful flesh. I am desperate to know You more–please help me see and fully realize just how desperate I really am and how blessed we are to be Your children and know You intimately. Please help me communicate the need to know You and follow You to those who attend our conference next weekend. Help me focus and finish my preparations to teach. Thank You for each and every opportunity You give me to encourage and mentor others and share to share Your everlasting love with them.