Devotional 12-6-11

^{Philippians 3:13
12} Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

What is it that Paul hopes to lay hold of? It is the very thing Christ laid hold of when He laid hold of Paul.
What Christ laid hold of for all of us is no less a miracle than all the others he performed. I believe it is the greatest miracle of all. Healing blindness, feeding multitudes and raising the dead is pretty impressive stuff. But to lay hold of the penalty of all sin of all time, to perform the righteous transaction that resulted in salvation to be offered to all who would receive it in order for a promise of eternity with God is as impressive as it can possibly get. That none of us has to be concerned or in fear of having to be good enough, to have to perform enough good works in order to maybe be granted entrance into His kingdom is an incredible, awe-provoking gift.
Christ dies in order to lay hold of us. We are the end result of His receiving glory. Paul understands that it isn't about attaining perfection in this life in order to be right with God. He understood it will be about laying hold of a robe in which the wearer of that robe will be the embodiment of all we've ever wished for, dreamt about, longed for and hoped for. He will be the Alpha and the Omega and in His presence in eternity nothing within us will yearn for anything else ever again. We will know fulfillment like we never had before. For we will share in His never ending glory and presence.

Holy Father we come to You in the name of Jesus Christ and we thank You for making a way for us, that You laid hold of us in order that one day we will completely in Your eternal presence lay hold of You. May this be our mind set as we go through this life with its difficulties and struggles; knowing that You have completed the work; that we are already laid hold of by You and that nothing can change that. Thank you Lord for this most precious of gifts. May we walk in a manner that is worthy of this gift. In Your holy name,
Amen.