We have looked at Philippians 3:10 from the Amplified Bible many times on this blog. It IS one of my very favorite verses. Here is a portion of it:
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
As I have meditated over the years, I have learned so many things from this one verse that have changed the way I comprehend all of Scripture! THAT is what meditation does for us! HE hid TRUTHS in His Word for US to find out and appropriate!
In reading in Proverbs 9 from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan (available from our website on the left, or follow along daily with us), I see a powerful reason why Paul had this mindset for himself! Look at verse 10:
10 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
The "fear of the Lord" is the Hebrew word "yir`ah:, which means: awe, respect, reverence. We are to have this reverence and respect for Who He is and to be in awe of His greatness! This attitude prepares our hearts to receive the knowledge, which is the Hebrew word "da`ath", which means: knowledge and comes from the Hebrew word "yada", which means: to learn to know, to perceive, to find out, to discern, to recognize, to know by experience, to be acquainted with. Paul, as Saul, had been a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) and had been taught the Old Testament Scriptures from a young age. He KNEW Joshua 1:8:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
He KNEW from Proverbs 9:10 that knowing, and having great reverence for, the Lord is what He was instructed to do! From HIS meditation he realized that becoming "more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him" would also put him in position to know, and be able to operate in, the POWER that Jesus had promised that born again believers have the right, and responsibility, to walk in! THAT is why it became Paul's "determined purpose" to know Jesus more! Paul had the desire to fulfill the ministry that God had called him to by preaching the Gospel, teaching the Church, and setting the captives free! SO SHOULD WE! Amen! Ask YOURSELF how you are doing in that area, and then make any adjustments necessary to get where you are supposed to be, and to do what you are supposed to do! Here, to help and encourage you in this, is Hillsong with "Children of the Light":
Shalom in Him!
