“That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” Philippians 3:10
September 5, 2025
The pursuit of God is the quest to know God. Advancing this truth is understanding that the pursuit of God is fulfilled in the shared sufferings of Jesus Christ. This is a door into the presence of God. It is not a pursuit of God so I can be happy. Or a pursuit of God so I can be fulfilled or so I can strengthen my self-worth. With knowing the Savior comes partnership in His sufferings. Knowing Christ means identifying with His death. We share in Christ’s sufferings in various ways, but Paul is thinking here primarily of the process of death to sin and self. Richard Loveless has put it this way: “New departments of the flesh open up in our lives as we mature.” Our sin goes deeper than our awareness of it (motives, judgments, values, desires, interests, comforts, relationships). We must be in the habit of renewing our commitment to waking up to the grandeur, perfection, and goodness of God. The Word of God can have a stun gun effect upon us. For example, as you are reading Job you realize that your response to pain and suffering has not been worship, but of anger. Oh to know Christ better. That’s where we want to go.
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“Once you become aware of the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.” (J.I. Packer, Knowing God)