I Press On

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

Philippians 3:21 

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Philippians 1:21 

Because to Paul, ‘to live is Christ,’ he pressed on to become the person Christ intended him to be. He was keenly aware he had not, at the time of writing, become that person yet. Thus he said, ‘not that I have already attained or am already perfected.’ He gave his full attention and effort to the imitation of Christ. In this Paul lived out in practical ways the truly spiritual life. Christ had apprehended Paul on the Damascus road. Paul had become, a believer in Christ, received the justification which comes by faith, and then having set aside any dependency upon human pedigree or credentials, set out to imitate Christ in every way. Thus, in imitating Christ, he would come to ‘know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.’ This was the all-consuming passion of Paul’s life. Christ had laid hold of him with the intention of transforming him into the image of Himself. Because of how Christ had worked in Paul’s life, he had become passionately preoccupied with pursuing this holy attainment. In many respects, Paul is the pattern of the believer, who having been thus apprehended, desires to become like Christ. 

Our Wise and Holy God, 
we rejoice that You have set Christ before us. 
We praise You, that as we look unto Him, 
Your Holy Spirit works to conform us into His Image. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning