Paul's desire to know Jesus could be compared in a certain sense to my relationship with my wife. For instance, when I met her, I fell "in love" with her and we were later married. After we were married, I could say in every sense of the word that I "knew" my wife. Yet, today - thirty-five years later, I can say, "I know her so much more now." I knew her thirty-five years ago, but I REALLY know her now. And I want to know her more. The more that I get to know her, the more that I love her. That's precisely what Paul was saying about his relationship with Jesus. He knew Jesus. He loved Jesus. But he wanted to know Him and love Him more.

There were three ways in which Paul wanted to know Jesus, and we should also desire to know Him in those ways. First, he wanted to know Jesus in the power of His resurrection. The very Power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to every believer. No one needs to be defeated. The Bible says that we have been raised with Christ and seated in heavenly places. We are victorious because of the resurrection of Christ. He has defeated every enemy known to mankind - sin, death, hell, and the devil. Therefore, we can be "more than conquerors." Paul wanted to practically know Christ in such power. Our hearts ought, also, to long to know Him in the power of His resurrection.

But Paul also wanted to know Christ in the fellowship of His sufferings. Many Christians want to know the power of God, but few want to know the sufferings of Christ. Yet, I've found the depth of the love of God can only be experienced in the midst of suffering. Often it's pain that drives us into the arms of the Savior. Knowing Christ in the fellowship of His sufferings isn't something to be feared, rather it's a relationship with God that is to be embraced. As one author aptly put it, "Don't waste your sorrows." Don't just endure suffering, but embrace it and allow God to draw you into a deeper knowledge of Himself.

The final way in which Paul wanted to know Christ was by being made conformable to His death. The totality of the Christian life is in "putting off the old life and putting on the new man." In order to do that, we must die to self. Paul knew that the knowledge of God and a spirit of pride could not dwell in the same heart. As we get to know God better, the more we die to self. That's why John, the Baptist, said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). To know Him is to die to our selfish wants, desires, and motivations.

The victorious Christian life is one given to getting to know Christ. To know Him is to love Him!