THAT

Today I was meditating in Philippians 3 and would like to share with you those thoughts.

In Philippians 3, Paul writes these words:

“But I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

People who write and edit certainly admonish authors not to use “that” so much!  And here Paul says it twice in the same sentence.

The second “that” is one of great importance though.

“That I may lay hold of THAT for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

So, what is THAT?

I grew up interpreting all God wanted us for was to work in the field!  I must have surrendered myself to Christian service a bunch of times!  And yes, I’ve worked in the field and done Christian labors, like we all have.

But that is not THAT I believe Paul was speaking of.

How do I know this?  Well, Paul was already doing the works following his encounter with the Lord  he saved him on the Damascus Road.  He was already preaching the gospel, establishing assemblies in cities – teaching the revelation taught by the Lord to his heart.

And in Philippians 3, in the previous sentences before he makes the statement about “that,” he says “That I may KNOW HIM…”

I believe we all have assignments the Lord wants us to do, and yes, we all are endowed with spiritual gifting for the building up of His saints.  Yet I believe the gifting and assignments is to be coupled with our deep and intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ Himself.

So I believe the THAT for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of us is to truly go deep with ALL that HE is for us and in us and ALL that He did for us.  I’ve made a little list of things I thought of where I can certainly afford to go deeper in to apprehend the “THAT!”

Here are some of those thoughts:

1)       How great and deep our sonship is in Christ Jesus.

2)       How perfect His blood is – and that it is HIS BLOOD alone who has washed us.

3)       How wonderful His LIFE is within our hearts – abiding in Him DOES bring forth FRUIT.

4)       How GREAT HIS ABILITY is to cause us to understand the spiritual realities.

5)       How He wants me to REALLY KNOW Him and my works to be the result, not the cause for His GREAT LOVE for and to us.

6)       How PERFECT is HIS PEACE that He desires us to ABIDE in ALWAYS.

7)       How HE GUARDS our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8)       How PERFECT is HIS LOVE – HIS LOVE transforms us day by day, HIS LIFE transforms us day by day.

There is so much more to lay hold of.  There is much to press on and press through in order that we do lay hold of THAT.  And His laying hold of us in Christ Jesus was to FIRST and FOREMOST save, love, redeem, and keep us.

Our works will follow!

Pressing hold to lay hold of THAT with you!

Sue Gaither