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November 26, 2007

Nothing Better Than Knowing Him

by Shana Schutte

In Philippians 3:8, Paul described knowing Christ as being superior to all things in life when he wrote, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..."

Perhaps you're thinking, I'm certainly not like Paul because I don't feel like I always experience the surpassing greatness of knowing Him. Rest assured; you're in good company. My guess is that many Christ followers feel the same: that their lives are lived somewhere in the middle of mediocrity, and on the edge of the mundane. That they're barely making it from day-to-day changing diapers, going to work, playing chauffeur, solving their husband's problems--or just breathing in and out.

I don't know about you, but the thought of living a lackluster spiritual life and missing out on the excellency of knowing Christ makes my heart ache. If I'm in a spiritual desert and I allow Paul's words to sink into the depths of my heart, I am suddenly faced with my lack--and I'm reminded that I don't always experience Him in His fullness. Out of this comes a deep ache, and a longing for something more. Perhaps you can relate.

But even in this there is hope.

Paul's words reveal that no matter where we are in our walk with Him, that there is more we can experience to His love, more to His hope, more to His tender care--there is more to knowing Him that can be discovered.

This is a reason to rejoice.

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you" (Psalm 63:3, NIV).

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