“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2 RSV)

    When faced with a divided church, divided hearts, and divided allegiances, Paul knew there was only one solution — go back to the Foundation. Today winds of change may blow, questions may arise as to who to listen to, who to trust in, who is faithful and who is not. One thing we know, the foundational message for the church and for the disciple is this — Jesus Christ and him crucified. The message points not to an idea, a cause or an affirmation. The message points to a person — Jesus Christ.

Few are interested in the truth.

    In the world in which we live, a lot of people are interested in what feels relevant, seems “politically correct” or has a valid ring to it. Few are interested in the truth. But a lot of those same people are desperately seeking truth in a relationship. They want someone, at least one person to whom they can turn who will not turn away. That is why the Gospel points not to an idea but to a person, not to a truth but to The Truth. Jesus proved he was true to me when he died in my place. Jesus proved he was the true way when he came back from the dead. When you really come to know Jesus and him crucified — you know all you need to know. You have come to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but that truth will satisfy.

Key Quote: “Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim, he was brought into a vivid, personal, overmastering relationship to Jesus Christ. Verse 16 [Acts 26:16] is immensely commanding—’to make thee a minister and a witness.’ There is nothing there apart from the personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s; he saw nothing else; he lived for nothing else. ‘For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers 1989.)

Prayer: Oh Father, through the love of your precious son Jesus Christ we have come to know you. How sweet it is to know you now in this way. Before I thought I knew you, but what I knew were things about you. Now, thanks to Jesus, I have come to know you.

There is so much more to discover, so much more to know about you. I know you will lead me. Obedience to Jesus, submission to your word is pleasure, oh, Father, when we come to know Jesus. It is not a burden or a chore, it is a joy. Help us to look past the words of men to see The Word. Let us settle for nothing less. Leave us hungry, destitute and desperate until we know him and kneel in grateful discipleship to him and him alone. Thank you for your word which gives us a faithful portrait of him and of our life in him.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

HEARTLIGHT^® Magazine is a ministry of loving Christians and the Westover Hills church of Christ.
Edited by Phil Ware and Paul Lee.
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Copyright © 1999, Dennis Downing. Used by permission.
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