Getting to Know you...

by Phil Hadley

Philippians 3 v10 says “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings...” (NIV)

There are two ways of knowing somebody. I know David Beckham. I could tell you who he plays for, when he captained England (and when he got sent off). I know who he’s married to and the name of his son. I’ve listened to him talk to Parkinson. I’ve looked at the pictures in his book. Yes I know David Beckham.

They’ve read the book and seen the film. They go to the fan club meetings. Some have even got the tee-shirt! But they don’t know him

But I’ve never met him, never talked with him. We haven’t hung out together. I’m never on his party guest list! (He doesn’t know what he’s missing!)

And some people know Jesus like that. They know all about him – where he was born, what he did, what he said, how he died, even how he rose again. They’ve read the book and seen the film. They go to the fan club meetings. Some have even got the tee-shirt! But they don’t know him.

The second way of knowing someone is on the personal level, where you have a relationship, a friendship with that person. You spend time together, you talk to each other, you care about what they think and what they desire. So on that level I have to confess I don’t know David Beckham. We are not mates.

He’s always been there for me

But I do know Jesus. We became friends years ago when I discovered how much he cared for me, and had done for me. And since then we’ve been through a lot together. He’s always been there for me. He is my best friend. In fact, his is the friendship I treasure most. And life has become an adventure of getting to know him more and more. So now I can pray like the apostle Paul “I want to know Christ.” Do you?