I must be careful not to “know” Christ in a natural way. Paul said. “Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer” (2 Corinthians 5:16). To know Christ “according to the flesh” means to know Him in a natural way, or to know Him second-hand.
To know Christ “according to the flesh” means to be associated with Him on a natural basis, as the disciples were. We sometimes say, “Oh, If I had only been there,” as if being in the physical presence of Jesus somehow creates faith. The disciples had been with Him for more than three years; yet they did not believe Him; they forsook Him and fled. But when the Holy Spirit entered them on Pentecost, suddenly all that Christ had taught them became amazingly alive and true. Then they knew Christ “after the Spirit.” I must refuse to learn of Christ after the laws of reason, research, or history. I must see Him only through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. There are too many “Christians” who see Christ naturally. A natural Christ will transform no one.
Also, I must not learn of Jesus Christ secondhand. I must not be a “sucker” and live off someone else’s faith. I must not “me too” the gospel, for such people shrivel and die when their source of life is removed from them.
If I let the Holy Spirit teach me directly of Jesus Christ, that knowledge will become richer and sweeter as time goes on; but if I learn of Him any other way, that knowledge will decay as surely as my body and brain will. I must never let Jesus be interpreted to me in any other way than spiritually; that is the only way He abides with me forever. I love Paul’s prayer: “May [God] give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him [Christ]” (Ephesians 1:17). How wonderful when answered!
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16).
Daily with the King 