Knowing Jesus

I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.

Knowing Jesus, likewise, means “walking” with him,
  “watching” him,
    and entering into his life
      with our hearts
      as well as with our minds

In the halcyon breezes of summer
  And the horrible blizzards of winter

When others are cordial and cooperative
  And when they are crabby and contentious
When friends stick close in courageous loyalty
  And when they run in cowardly desertion

When he encounters
The smiles of approval
  And snarling, murderous opposition;
The delights of close companionship,
  And the desolation of the Garden
The paeans of popular praise
  And the shouts of “Crucify him!”

When he hears the Father say, “This is my beloved Son,”
  And when he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

To know the power of his resurrection,
  We must first share the fellowship of his sufferings.

May knowing Jesus be that one precious pearl
  For which we are happy to sell, or even give, all else!