Our Passion and Pursuit

Supreme greatness of knowing Christ – vs.8
3:10 - I want to (continually) know Christ and the power of His resurrection - becoming like Him..." "Want to" in the Williams Translation says, "long for." "Want" describes passion - intensive desire, burning heart, hunger and thirst. It means to not just have a small desire, but a burning desire that involves the disciplined choice of the will.

The Amplified Translation uses "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 Him.....being continually transformed.. into His likeness..."

Paul is saying that his life's consuming passion and greatest joy is to continually pursue knowing Him intimately, exclusively, personally, and intensively by a decisive choice of the will. Tozer says, "We are as close to God right now as we have chosen to be."

Where did Paul catch this vision and become totally enthralled with this passion of knowing Jesus? Paul's major focus in life dramatically reversed itself on the Damascus Road. It was a pivotal, life-changing event. He often referred to how it brought perspective and priority to his life. Remember what Ananias said to Paul - "The Lord has chosen you that you might know His will (know His mind and heart) and see the righteous One... THEN you will be His witness of all that you have seen and heard" (Acts 22:14, 15).

No longer would his achievements, credentials, titles, and position be his identity, worth, and supreme value. His infinite worth and supreme passion was now to be found in knowing Jesus. After seeing the Lord Almighty, all these past indexes of success were considered garbage. Paul was happy to throw away all he had attained in order to pursue the passion of "knowing Christ." Nothing would ever have a greater value in Paul's life.

Paul's marching orders were clear. The Great Commission was not to become his passion; rather, his passion was a growing, intimate relationship with a living, risen Person - Jesus Christ. He had been captured and enthralled by a Person - Jesus Christ - and THEN to a mission to touch the Gentile world with the Gospel. He believed that to be in harmony with the great Commission was to be in harmony with Jesus first.

Continue >>>