Sunday, August 9, 2009

"All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." Philippians 3:15

In this chapter Paul testified that he had discovered "the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (v.8). Then he expressed his continuing goal "to know Christ" even more fully (v.10). And then he confessed, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (v.12). The great apostle had come to know Christ deeply yet he realized there was more of Christ to know and therefore he had not arrived at full maturity.

Turning from his own testimony and aspirations he charges the reader, "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." A mark of true spiritual maturity is the realization that we have not reached full maturity accompanied by a commitment to press on to a fuller knowledge of Christ. The Lord is like a shore-less ocean whose width and depth we can spend a lifetime exploring without ever exhausting. Press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of you!

Father, ignite in me a passion to know Christ more fully. Keep me resting content with the knowledge I have already gained and hungry for more of Jesus.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark
Posted by at

1 comment:

  1. francieAugust 10, 2009 at 6:54 AM

    Good Morning Pastor Mark,
    I pray that everything went well as you sent your precious daughter off to college. In this passage Paul reminds us that the things that we accumulate in this world compared to knowing God is nothing but rubbish. It so amazes me how smart mankind think they are, but miss the one relationship that we last for eternity. I pray that we all say like Paul, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Love in Christ Francie

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)