In
Philippians 3, Paul writes of leaving off those things he once thought so
important and instead pursuing, trying to grasp what has been used by Jesus to
grasp him. It is a grand race that he is in the midst of
as he writes. It is a pursuit where the
end is somehow attaining the resurrection from the dead. The end is standing before the throne of the
King of the universe. And this pursuit
for Paul is one of knowing Jesus, identifying with both His life and His death
in order to also identify with His resurrection. The piece that prevents this from being “works
salvation” is that throughout, Jesus has grasped him and is pulling and calling
him into it.
This chapter
holds a very personal look at Paul’s perspective of his life with his
Master. Paul sees that he at once pulled
and grasped by Christ Jesus, and at the same time striving with all that is in
him to reach up into that relationship as well.
It would go without saying that all the striving of Paul could not hope
to equal the exertion of Christ on his behalf, so Paul is not saved by his own
striving, but he strives as if he is.
This had to look really strange to those around him. He would seem fanatical in his pursuit of
service and knowledge of Jesus. It would
only be in talking to him that it would become obvious he was in the mighty grip
of God.
Where is my
striving and devotion compared to Paul’s?
How is it that I can have this same fanatical pursuit mindset in
me? Is the aim of my life that I might
know Him, and fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed to His death, so
that I might somehow attain to the resurrection from the dead? Do I forget those things once precious to me
so that I can pursue, seeking to grasp that with which my Master has grasped
me; the upward call of Jesus? Is there
still an idol in my life, or are there idols still in my heart? Am I willing to jettison everything for this
pursuit? Is the goal of my life to know
Him?
I think I’m
moving that way. I see changes in me
from last year that indicate that I am developing more of this attitude. But I also see some persistent sinful
attitudes and thought patterns that I have not been able to shake off. In Twelve-step programs, there are these two
steps that often get forgotten, 6 and 7.
In step 6 I become ready to have God remove these defects of
character. In step 7, I humbly ask God
to remove these defects of character.
This is a revolving process where, as defects are brought to the
surface, I strive to cut loose my desire and dependency on them. Then I ask for my Master to remove them. This is not instant.
I am becoming
ready to have my Master remove more of my defects. I will begin asking Him to remove them once I
turn that corner (I keep going back and forth on my determination). And the process of Him removing them will not
likely be instant. Nothing else about
this aspect of my life has been instant; no sense starting now. I also know that the process of removal will
include replacement. For instance I will
see objectification of other people replaced with reliance on Jesus for my
sense of security; replacing the underlying problem of my own illusion of
control playing out in objectifying (and therefore controlling) others.
That I might
know Him; and this is eternal life: that I might know the Father and the Son
whom He sent; how badly do I want to live?
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