And, to continue to strive until the end and, at least, live up to what we have attained…
Philippians 3:12-19
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
“I make every effort to take hold of”
Persecute - zealously, vigorously hunt down - pursue with haste, chasing, desiring to overtake and apprehend
“Taken hold of me” to make me plunder
Lay hold of, to seize, - tight hold of, catch, capture, overtake - aggressively take - with decisive initiative, grasping in a forceful manner - making it, me, one’s own - to appropriate
“Straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward to goal to win the prize…”
Reaching ahead, stretch forward, to strain after – to reach the full impact of the resurrection – out from the realm of death given to them at Christ’s return
Press on, pursue with all haste – earnestly desiring to overtake; to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing – to run after
With what effort did Jesus search for me, that I might now, exert to abide in Him? Luke 15 - pursuing me, that I might pursue Him; He risked His reputation to be with me, will I risk mine to be and go with Him?
15:1-2 - the all important context
Matthew 9:9-13 - his autobiography
Matthew 11:19 - the accusation
Luke 7:33-35 - accusing, but wisdom is proven right
15:3-7 - the essence of His coming, the joy set before Him (Heb 12)
We are loved, cherished, valued, and celebrated - rejoice!
