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Philippians 3:12-16
It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus]. Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus. Let us, then, who are “perfectly mature” adopt this attitude. And if you have a different attitude, this too God will reveal to you.
Grace Prayed For: To grow in interior freedom; to become more aware of disordered attachments that get in the way of loving, God, others, myself
The parchment crackled beneath your fingertips as your eyes scanned the lines. The scent of aged paper, tinged with the faint aroma of incense, filled your senses. You were alone with the words, and with yourself.
“It is not that I have already taken hold of it,” the verse began. A familiar pang of doubt echoed within you. You, too, hadn’t reached that state of perfect maturity, that ultimate goal. But the next words offered a glimmer of hope. “I continue my pursuit,” the verse declared, the rhythm of the language like the steady beat of a determined heart. You could almost feel your own pulse quicken in response.
Suddenly, the text shifted, a personal address: “Brothers, I for my part…” The words felt like a warm hand clasping yours, drawing you into the writer’s experience. You weren’t alone in this pursuit. Others, like you, were striving, reaching.
“Just one thing,” the verse continued, urging you to focus. The world outside faded away, the air heavy with anticipation. “Forgetting what lies behind,” the words commanded. You felt the weight of your past, a burden you couldn’t carry forward. Yet, the promise that followed was freeing: “straining forward to what lies ahead.” A sense of release washed over you, the urge to press on a tangible feeling in your muscles.
“The prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus,” the verse concluded. The words painted a picture in your mind: a climb, arduous but filled with purpose, the summit bathed in the warm glow of God’s grace. This was the prize, your ultimate goal.
You closed the worn pages, the words imprinted on your soul. You were not there yet, but the journey had taken on a new meaning. It wasn’t just about reaching the destination, but about the constant act of striving, of letting go of the past and embracing the future. This was your pursuit, a journey you embarked on not alone, but hand-in-hand with the writer, with brothers and sisters in faith, and most importantly, with Christ Jesus guiding the way.
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post