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Devotionals
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Experiencing Christ
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Joni and Friends Daily Devotional
Experiencing Christ
"I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." Philippians 3:8-9
In today's reading, Paul describes what it's like to know Christ in terms of being justified, of being legally positioned on God's side. Here, Paul is saying that God has done something for us on His books. It's wonderful to have the Lord impute His righteousness to us. But many Christians think that's all there is to Christianity.
There's much more. After verse 9 of Philippians, Paul discusses a different kind of knowledge of Christ. Paul no longer comments on his position, the fact that he has been "found in him... through the righteousness that comes from God." No, Paul talks about his experience of God...
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11).
Positioning may have been God's responsibility; but experiencing was Paul's responsibility. To experience God means to enjoy and realize, apprehend and understand the Lord in a deep, personal union. And, like Paul, this is your responsibility, too.
If someone were to ask, "Do you know Jesus?" what would you say? "Yes, I've been saved and I know I'm going to heaven." If that were your response, then good. You've just told everybody that you are justified and forgiven. But I hope you could also say, "Yes, Jesus and I are intimate with each other. Let me tell you about the kind of person He is and how much I love spending time with Him."
More than a head knowledge, I desire a heart knowledge of You, Lord.
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Davidwayne Lackey 08/17/2014 20:02 |
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