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LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com
Paul writes in Philippians 3:8-10 "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord... that I may win Christ and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection."

Are you saved? Have you asked Jesus into your heart? Did you follow Christ in baptism? Do you have your ticket to Heaven?

Many people believe that since they have done one, or all of the above things that their eternal future is secure and that they have nothing more to worry about.

While I believe the Bible teaches that a believer is secure in their salvation once they have repented of their sins and trusted Jesus as their Savior, the point to Christianity is hardly, "get your ticket to Heaven now!"

Paul's salvation experience (vividly recorded in Acts 9, 22 and 26 changed his entire life.

He was never the same after that. He spent the rest of his life both serving God as Christ instructed him to do, and trying to get to know Christ better. And that is the point of Philippians 3:8-10.

Prior to salvation, Paul was a good Pharisee. He described himself as a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He was likely self-righteous and believed himself to be a good person.

After salvation, Paul's concern was getting closer to God, as opposed to getting better himself.

Did you answer yes to my first question? If so, has your life changed since salvation? Or are you stuck in the rut of the same old same old?

If you are still stuck in the rut of the same old stuff, different day, you might consider getting to know Jesus.

How do you get to know Jesus more? Is it through meditation? Sitting around trying to feel His Spirit? No.

You get to know Jesus the way Paul did... by studying the Bible.

Paul desired righteousness, which he stated in our passage is "of God by faith: that I may know Him."

To get to know Jesus, you have to grow your faith. In order to grow your faith, you must read God's Word, the Bible. Romans 10:17 says "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."

God wants you to know Him. God wants you to know Christ. You can accomplish both by reading the Bible. I recommend beginning in John, or the Psalms.

If you'd like, you may even e-mail me and let me know how you're doing.