It is a great tragedy that many people go through life without ever becoming acquainted with their Creator. To overlook that relationship is to miss the purpose for their existence and the greatest privilege available to mankind – knowing God. Even Christians can undervalue the honor of getting to know Christ more intimately.

Philippians 3:7-11:

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. 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. 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.”

Paul’s all-consuming passion to know the Lord caused him to count everything else as worthless in comparison to that tremendous blessing. Though believers can accept Christ as their Savior, faithfully serve Him, and anticipate being with Him in heaven, many have no hunger to know Him right now.

Our culture floods us with information and distractions that can fill our minds and hearts, leaving us indifferent to developing a deeper relationship with Christ. Some people even substitute learning facts about the Lord for knowing Him relationally.

How can we be satisfied simply with being saved and have so little interest in the most gratifying and exciting relationship available to us? Pursuing Christ with Paul’s passion requires sacrifice – spending time alone with the Lord, surrendering our will, and learning to know Him through suffering. Although salvation is a free gift, intimacy with God is a costly process, but the rewards are invaluable and eternal.

- [by unknown]