TSMSS - Knowing You...

^{Philippians 3:8, 10 (The Amplified Bible)
8}Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),
¹⁰[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death,...

I know many people who feel ashamed when they are going through bad times. This could be that they come from cultures based in shame, or perhaps if they believe in the idea of 'karma', then there would be shame that people would see them as being punished for their sins. There are many other reasons 'shame' is added on to our suffering.

Not so for Christians who freely claim suffering as part of their maturing in their faith. In fact, Jesus suffered freely for all mankind. It is in suffering that we are stripped of the unimportant and at the end we know that what was, is, and will be important, is knowing Him, and being known by Him.
Listen to this song I chose for TSMSS, hosted by Amy, and be blessed.

All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you, there is no greater thing
You're my all, you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh, to know the power of your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like you in your death, my Lord
So with you to live and never die

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music,
www.grahamkendrick.co.uk