“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV).

Much of the New Testament of the Bible is written either about or by the Apostle Paul. Formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, Paul received a name change following his encounter with the risen Jesus on a road to the city of Damascus. Paul’s life as one who persecuted the fledgling Christian Church took a complete one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn as he placed his faith in Jesus as the one who would save him.

Under Paul’s leadership and laser-like focus on ministry, the Church exploded in number. Paul preached and taught the Word of God with Spirit-filled passion and conviction. He made several missionary journeys during his time as an apostle and penned at least thirteen letters to individuals and churches. These letters, also known as epistles, appear in our Bible’s New Testament. Even today, Paul’s influence radically exceeds his limited lifespan and martyred death.

With such ministry success, we might think that Paul knew the character and love of God better than anyone. He had, after all, come face to face with Jesus. Still, Paul expressed his burning desire to “…know Christ…” (Philippians 3:10, NIV). This was his ultimate hope.

I, too, want to “…know Christ…” (Philippians 3:10, NIV). This is the desire of my heart and the longing of my soul, to know Jesus intimately, just as he knows me. I want to worship him wrecklessly and serve him with unrestrained passion, to love him as he loves me, to speak to him boldly and follow him obediently. I desire to live my life for him, because he died for me.

May God bless our journey together as we strive to know Jesus better.