Know Him first. Serve Him next.
Good morning. Today’s Bible verse is Philippians 3:10:
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”
Take a moment to read Philippians 3:7–14 and let Paul’s mindset shape your thoughts before you continue.
Yesterday, we saw how life comes into focus when Christ is at the center.
Today, Paul shows us how that focus guides our direction —
our true north in the risen Christ.
If Day 1 gave us the picture,
Day 2 gives us the doctrinal anchor.
Mary sat at Jesus’ feet.
Today, we sit at the feet of the risen and glorified Christ
through the truths He revealed to Paul.
Paul’s focus was not on Jesus’ earthly ministry.
It was on the risen Lord
who met him and entrusted him
with the message of the gospel of grace.
Paul’s desire was simple and singular:
“…that I may know Him,”
the resurrected Head of the Body.
Not merely know about Him.
Not only work for Him.
Not perform before Him.
But know Him —
in resurrection power,
in suffering fellowship,
and in daily conformity to His death.
This is the heart of the matter:
The resurrection is the key to sanctification.
When He died, we died.
When He arose, we arose — spiritually.
By faith in the gospel of grace,
we walk in newness of life,
freedom from condemnation,
and the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
That same resurrection power works in us today.
That is our true north.
Picture a compass.
When the needle points north, everything aligns.
When it drifts, nothing is accurate.
So it is with the believer.
Resurrection truth is true north.
Knowing Him steadies the heart.
His resurrected life orients the soul
of each member of the Body of Christ.
Knowing Him is the believer’s first focus.
Serving Him follows. Never the reverse.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Php 3:10.
Meditation:
Father, may I grow in fellowship with the risen Christ. Holy Spirit, anchor my heart in the truths of grace. Lord Jesus, may I know You more as I walk in the power of Your resurrection.
Reflection Question:
Is your Christian life driven by knowing Christ — or by doing things for Him?