… but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Summary: What is it, exactly, that is being taken “hold of?” Clearly, Paul has something in mind. It is up to us to figure out what it is.
Before we dive into this passage, let’s see if we can figure out what Paul is talking about. What is it, exactly, that he and Jesus are taking hold of?
Let’s look at the whole verse in the Amplified translation:
“Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own.” (Philippians 3:12, AMP)
In our last meditation, we asked the question, “How should we fill our time between now and the day we are called home to be with the Lord?”
In this passage, Paul answers that question.
Paul makes clear that he is not just sitting around waiting for Jesus.
Jesus calls us for a reason. Remember what Paul said earlier:
“… for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)
So what is God’s “good purpose?” Isn’t this the same reason “Christ Jesus took hold of me?”
The answer is, “Yes.”
Paul writes, “For he [God] chose us [you and me!] in him {Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)
Then Jesus says:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last.” (John 15:16)
And he also says:
“’Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’” (Matthew 4:19)
Jesus explains this more clearly in his instructions to Paul on the road to Damascus:
“I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26: 17b-18)
Free the slaves and lead them to the light. That is why Christ died on the cross and why Jesus took hold of Paul, and you, and me.
What then, do we sit and wait for the end? Are we just waiting in the terminal for the ‘Jesus train’ to come?
No!
That would be like a movie where the hero and heroine have been separated for years. He has been in prison, and she has been waiting faithfully. Yet, when he finally gets out of prison, she is not there to welcome him. He searches for her, and when he finds her, she barely notices him. He runs to her, but she sits waiting, seemingly indifferent.
Is that how we greet our Lord?
Application: Jump up for Jesus!
Food for Thought: How would you describe the reason Jesus took hold of you?
It’s a good devotion. As I read it I saw in my mind a tool box drawer being open and a specific tool being taken a hold of and taken out.
How would you describe the reason Jesus took hold of you?
Jesus took hold of me to give me life. He took a hold of me to spare me from God’s righteous judgement, so that I may spend eternity with Him, that I may live my life here on Earth in confidence that He has redeemed me, and in that confidence, live a life that is pleasing to God and abundant in God’s provision and blessing.
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 6:35 Jesus says, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
But then I thought about that tool box and I remembered this verse:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Jesus took a hold of me specifically because He created me for a specific purpose in His Kingdom. By His redemption, through His calling, in His service, I am able to fulfill my purpose, and in doing so, I live a life more abundantly.
Thank you, Chris!
I like your visualization of the tool box drawer. When you said that, I thought of our kitchen gadget drawer. It has all kinds of weird things in it and yet each one has a use. 🙂
Thank You CH!
How would you describe the reason Jesus took hold of you?
Philippians 3:12, 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.
Ephesians 2:8, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
John 1:12, But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
All believers are individuals with our own small sphere of influence in this world. Jesus has taken hold of us so we can each, choose to by the power of the Holy Spirit, submit to His will over our own as we allow His light to shine through us, and be seen by this world around us. We have been given the sight to see, the power to receive as well as well as the power to reveal Gods truths to those around us.
John 16:13, When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Mathew 5:15-16, Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Our lives are enriched to the degree we become the transmitter, allowing God to be the generator of His truths being displayed to the world around us.
Thank you, Ron!
God’s light does shine through us — the more the better! 🙂