THAT I MAY KNOW HIM

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith 

MARCH 25
 
Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death;
 

Paul appears to have had seven principal wishes, and they are all expressed in this brief epistle.

 

They all have reference to Christ.

 

Indeed Christ was Paul’s centre, to which he constantly tended, and the circle within which all the desires of his soul were included.

 

He especially desired

   to know Christ;

   to win Christ;

   to magnify Christ both in his body and soul;

   to be found in Christ; to rejoice in the day of Christ;

   and to be with Christ.

 

But the first lies at the root of all the rest. The knowledge of Christ is more excellent than any other, than all other knowledge. But how little do we know of Christ, therefore it is that we enjoy so little of Christ.

 

Our knowledge of Christ should be

   powerful and influential,

     regulating our thoughts,

      desires, hopes, fears, confidence,

        and our conduct toward God and man,

             especially toward the saints; and

                  we should grow in the knowledge of Christ.

 

If we do really and sincerely desire

   to know Christ,

   we shall search his word,

   frequent his ordinances,

   meditate on his truth,

   be often at his throne, and

   speak of him to his people.

 
‘Tis life to know the dying Lamb.
Eternal life is in his name;
O may I in this knowledge grow,
And daily more of Jesus know.
 
James Smith