"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12).
The Greek verb twice translated "apprehend" in this verse seems to mean something like "fully possess." Paul used the same word when he prayed that the Ephesians would be able to comprehend the love of Christ in all its "breadth, and length, and depth, and height;" being "filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:18-19).
If any Christian could ever have claimed to have attained a "perfect" state in his Christian life, it would seem to have been the great apostle, Paul. Yet even Paul had to recognize that he still had much to learn about Christ and a long way still to grow in Christ-like character and conduct. Who, therefore, among us today could ever claim to have reached perfection in his or her Christian life? There may be some indeed who would make such claims, but they would inevitably be disputed by those who know them best. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8).
Like Paul, each of us should therefore make a firm commitment that; "I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).
What better time could there be to make such a resolution than this first day of a New Year? We have, as believers saved by grace through faith in Christ, indeed been "apprehended" by Him, so we surely ought to "comprehend" Him in all the fullness of His love and in desiring to attain unto His "high calling" for us. HMM
