Reading: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” —Ephesians 1:17 

The Bible tells us that knowledge puffs up. Knowledge of Christ, however, is knowledge that humbles. Carnal knowledge puffs up, but the knowledge of Christ cannot tolerate pride. The more a man knows of Christ, the more humble he will become. He might be brilliant in his own right, yet if He knows God in Christ he will always be less than the least of all saints, and he will forever see himself as the chief of sinners. There is no room for pride in a heart filled with the knowledge of Christ.

The reason the knowledge of Christ is humbling is that it is knowledge of Him, not merely knowledge about Him—it is knowing Him. A woman in love is never going to be satisfied with emails from the one she loves; she wants him. So it is with Christ; we are not satisfied merely with His Word, but with Him through the Word.

As important as this knowledge is, it is not something we can obtain on our own. Any other knowledge a man may get by diligence research and study. Spiritual knowledge must be given, and we get it through prayer. Paul prayed therefore for the Ephesians “that … God … may give unto you … the knowledge of him.” We need to ask for this knowledge in the place of prayer. When was the last time you prayed to know Christ better, deeper, and more fully?

“Prayer and praise are the oars by which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ.”—C.H. Spurgeon