It is important to “understand the difference between ‘knowing’ someone and really knowing someone. Paul spoke in Philippians of having the goal of knowing the Lord [Philippians 3:10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
See All...]. I can assure you he already knew the Lord when he wrote the statement. He had been a Christian for thirty years. What could he have meant? Paul was aware that there was a higher plane of knowing the Lord, just as a husband and wife can know one another after thirty years of marriage. Paul was not speaking of a casual acquaintance or an ‘easy com, easy go’ relationship. With passion Paul pressed on to know God—and he knew God. Can we do less? Dare we do less?”