Paul the apostle told the
Philippians he had a desire to obtain the “resurrection of the
dead”, and he aspired to know both the “power of his
resurrection” and the “fellowship of his suffering”
of Christ Jesus to obtain it. In chapter three and verse twelve of
his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul gave the Philippians more
information about what he desired to attain where he wrote:
Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if
that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus.
The verse begins, “Not
as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:”
Though Paul at this point had
nearly thirty years in his relationship with Jesus, he knew he was
“not as though he already attained” which
means “to take what is one's own, to take to one's self, to
make one's own, to claim, procure, for one's self”, and he knew he
was not “already perfect” or
“complete, accomplished or finished”. Even though Paul had a long
relationship with Jesus and was very close to him, still he knew
there was more work to be done upon and within him.
The
verse goes on to say, “but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
The result of knowing that he
had not already attained or become perfect was “I
follow after” which means “to
run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after”.
Paul knew that his best effort toward attaining and becoming like
Jesus was to “follow after” Him. “If” Paul
followed, there was the possibility that he “may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus”. Paul
considered himself “apprehended” or “to lay hold of so
as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to make one's own, to
take into one's self, appropriate” by Jesus Christ, and he knew
that Jesus had a plan for his life. Paul had not attained all that
was for him, but he “followed after” Christ that he might attain
it some day.
When we consider Paul's
words we might ask ourselves if we think we have already attained or
become perfect in our lives. If we have, congratulations, there are
many people who would like to meet those who have, however, if we are
like most people, there is still a little more work to be done. The
key to this verse is the two words “follow after” which is
the means by which we may lay hold on all Jesus Christ has for us.
Admitting that we have not attained or become perfect is the first
step. Then we “follow after” Jesus for all the days of our
lives as he works within us His divine plan. Though we have not
“attained” as yet, still we may pursue Him to be more and
more like Him every day.
Next
time Paul talks about what to forget, so read ahead, and we shall
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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