Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE the Word of God and that I am "stickler" for the Word. "Stickler", according to the dictionary: stick·ler (st k l r). n. 1. One who insists on something unyieldingly. THAT'S me! They also know that my personal favorite verses are found in Philippians 3:8-11. Paul prepared the crowd for these verse by telling of his background and his worldly "right" to boast! Then he said this:
8Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), 9And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. 10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 11That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
Paul considered that there was NOTHING that this world has to offer that is as precious and as valuable as KNOWING our LORD JESUS! I feel the same way! "Know" in verse 10 is the Greek word "ginosko". Strong's Concordance says: to know absolutely in a variety of applications and with many implications. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to learn to know, to come to know, to get knowledge of, to understand, to perceive. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to be taking in knowledge; to come to know, recognize, understand; to understand completely. This is a life-long process that brings us ever closer in intimate fellowship with Him! Paul also tells us, in verse 10, that THIS is the way to understand (and be able to operate in) the POWER that is necessary for us to do the works of Jesus, and the greater works that Jesus Himself said we are to walk in! This is MY goal! How about you? Here is Hillsong United with "To Know Your Name":
Shalom in Him!
