(Philippians 3:12-17 ESV)
[12] 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. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
[17] Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
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- [verse 12] Paul makes the claim that most of us would make: "I'm not perfect." Most people would agree with that. He goes on to say that because of that, he is always striving to be better and more mature (the word for "perfect" he uses is also the same word for "mature" down in verse 15). However, this is much different than bettering himself simply for the sake of self-improvement. He gives the reason he continues to strive forward: it's because Jesus has taken Paul as his own; it means Paul fully recognizes that Jesus has paid a penalty on his behalf and because of Paul's faith in that, he is a possession of Jesus. Paul is not talking about self-help as the answer to maturity, but self-denial.
- [verse 13] Paul will never consider himself to have "arrived." He knows fully well that the only way to have attained full maturity, or perfection, is to die and be united with Christ. Because of this fact, he refuses to dwell on what is past and move forward in a life that is a process of dying to oneself that he may be formed more into the image of Jesus daily. The goal is not death, but life in abundance (John 10:10). This comes through a repentant life, walked with Christ.
- [verse 15] Paul calls all believers who are mature to have this attitude: the attitude of verses 12-14. He's saying that mature believers should know that they are not as mature as they should or could be. My hope and prayer is that I never forget this. I don't want to be one of those Christians who seems unteachable; who seems like they have everything under perfect control; who knows it all; who gives advice to anyone and everyone but is unwilling to take any advice from anyone other than their senior pastor (even though they've never really talked to their senior pastor at great length). Being a mature follower of Christ means knowing that you are really not all that mature yet.
- [verse 17] At the same time, we need to be confident enough in our maturity that we are worthy of being imitated by fellow believers. So my two questions for the day:
- How "perfect" do I see myself?
- What in my life is not worthy of imitation; and what must I do to remove them?
