There is nothing that enlarges the soul like a deeper understanding and appreciation of the person of Christ. We may be in a person’s company, we may even experience their care and expertise. But in so doing we may not really get to know them or have any desire to develop a relationship beyond what is essential for a specific time, or place, or purpose. The relationship may end at a certain point when there is nothing further that the individual can help us with, and as a result we may never come in contact with them again.
However, it is different with the Lord Jesus. As we spend time in His presence and experience His marvelous care, we find in Himself a person that answers fully to our every need, “spirit, and soul, and body” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We realize the truth of the Psalmist when he wrote, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s...For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 103:2, 5; 107:9).
As the bride in the Song of Solomon is slowly awakened as to the presence of her bridegroom, and begins to enumerate His qualities and beauties, her appreciation of who he is unconsciously deepens and expands until she says with genuine feeling, “He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend” (Song of Solomon 5:16).
In the midst of his trial and affliction, one of Job’s friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, exhorted him, “Acquaint now thyself with Him” (Job 22:21). Peter tells us, “Unto you therefore which believe He is precious” (1 Peter 2:7). The better we know Him the more precious He becomes. If affliction brings us into a more intimate acquaintance and a greater appreciation of the person of Christ, then we can truly say, “It is good for me.”
It is one thing to know facts about someone, it is quite another thing to know that person in an personal way. We may be able to innumerate statistics concerning many famous people, but we may not know them as a person having never spent time in their company. The desire of Paul’s life regarding the person of Christ, was, “that I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). Not just to know about Him, but to know HIM. Is this our prayer and desire as well?
How much do you value His presence?
How much does He mean to your soul?
How much does His glorious person,
Your thoughts and emotions control?
How well do you know Him, the question—
Acquainted with Him as your friend,
Our Lord, and our Master, our Savior,
Whose beauties His person attend?