March 28, 2025 -- Philippians 3:12 -- To know Jesus

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Philippians 3:12 ESV
 
The integrity of memorizing Scripture, and therefore seeing how it all hangs together, really proves itself in today’s verse. One chapter ago, 2:12, Paul urged the people of Philippi to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Having been sanctified through Jesus Christ, helped by the Spirit they are to obey God in both will and work. In the last four verses Paul has been sharing his dedicated desire to leave all the things of this world which might entangle him and would prevent him from knowing Jesus and His resurrection power. He is confessing how far short he falls in that desire. He strives precisely because he has not obtained all of this.
 
He is communicating the already and not yet. In Christ Jesus we possess a righteousness not our own. That is already ours. We are shielded by His righteousness so that God sees us through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. We are already righteous. However, you and I know we are not within ourselves acting in accordance with the righteousness that is our own. We are not yet living out the full righteousness that is ours in Christ. Since we are not yet perfectly in sync with the righteousness given us, we desire more of Christ. More of knowing Him. More of the Spirit to keep in step with Jesus, Who has proved Himself to be better than anything that the world  could ever offer.
 
There is a translation that shows the wonderful verbal parallels which Paul made in the original language. “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12 NAS). Notice that Paul urgently desires to lay hold of Christ Jesus and through Him to obtain that perfection for which Christ took hold of him. It is Jesus’s prior hold and claim on him which drives Paul to desire Jesus.
 
“One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet” Proverbs 27:7 ESV. If you are already filled up with the things of this world, then the sweetest thing, (hearing the good news of Jesus Christ and laying hold on Him), is like eyeing dessert when you’ve already had to loosen your belt two notches to accommodate your overstretched full belly. You can’t do it. However, if you lay aside all the things which this earth says will satisfy you, (but as you already clearly know those things don’t ever satisfy you), and set aside all the sins that cling to you, you’ll find that knowing and serving Jesus is truly what your souls craves. He is already laying hold of you. That growing desire to know Jesus proves He has laid hold of you. But it does not yet fully possess all your thoughts and words and actions and desires. But the more you know Jesus, the more you want to know Him—the more you realize He has laid hold on you, the more you want to lay hold on Him and never let go.
 
Teach us, Good Lord, to serve You as You deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from: Divine Service Book for the Armed Forces, “FOR COURAGE”, 1950, page 34
 
https://youtu.be/dxpPg86cId4?si=1qLTgc1yZFsxjhOm I’d Rather Have Jesus — Selah
 

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