I am reading again in the Book of Philippians. It seems that at almost every turning point in my Christian life God always seems to steer me back to Paul’s message to the Church at Philippi. This morning I have been looking at Chapter 3 verse 12 closely. Pauls writes…. “but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Not a very long passage, yet it is pretty prolific if we will pay close attention to what God is saying here. It leads me to a very simple question. Am I taking hold of that for Christ Jesus took hold of me? I guess we first would need to ask the even simpler question…for what did Christ Jesus lay hold of you for? Can you answer that question? What is amazing to me is……could there be any more important a question for us as individuals. Why did Christ lay hold of you? What possible reason could there be that the King of Glory would lower himself to the position of slave and then when he got to the lowest level he voluntarily said…..I will pay the penalty for your sin….on the cross.
What possible reason could there be for such behavior from an omnipotent God and King? The reason rings in my ears as if I were a small child in church again….. “for God so loved the world He gave…..” That is the only real reason I can find for why God would leave His throne in heaven, come to earth as a man, and die on a cross for the sins of the whole world. He loves His creation with a deep and passionate love. A love so deep that it defies any human logic and reason.
That is why Paul writes, “.…but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me.” What was Paul’s understanding for why Christ took hold of him? He reveals a bit of his heart in verse 20 of that same Chapter. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
It appears to me that what separates Paul from most of us, is his eternal perspective. Paul is eagerly awaiting for Christ’s return. The question I continue to ask myself is….am I? Am I eagerly awaiting a savior? Does my life reflect that?
Does your life reflect a deep conviction that presses on to take hold of that for which Christ laid hold of you? If not,…. why not? I think I will think thru this some more. I am in need of an adjustment in my heart.
