THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS any man, no matter how great his spir itual attainments may be when he thinks he now has all. There is always something better further on (2 Cor. 3: 18; 1 Thess. 4:10)., However so many the spiritual blessings may he that God bestows upon us, let us say “ not yet” (v. 13). While Paul did not count himself “ yet” to have apprehended, he ever set his face toward apprehending in all its fullness that for which Christ had apprehended him. He concentrated all his efforts and thought on this “ one thing.” The things already attained he did not stop to regard with com placency/ and self-satisfaction, but left them behind (for they were not the goal) and forgot them as he passed them. He was ever “ stretching for ward to the things which are before.” He was not occupied with the good things of past experience, but with the better things of future experience. The word translated “ stretching forward to” (R. V .) is a very expressive word. It pictures the runner pressing his whole body toward the goal and stretching out his head in his eagerness to cross the line. Such is the way for the Christian to run his race. Too many are con tented with and talk too much about present attainment. Don’t do that, “ press on,” there is something better, yea, infinitely better, ahead. Thus says Paul, “ 1 press on toward the goal (rather than think that I have already reachéd it.) Let' us not forget that it was well towards the close of Paul’s wonderful life of achievement that he wrote these words and he was still pressing on. What a lesson for us! Never until the very end must we cease to press on. At the goal was the prize and it was “ unto the prize” that Paul was pressing toward the goal. That prize was “ the high calling of God,” i. e,. that high destiny to which God had called him (and us) (cf. Rom. 8:17; John 17:22; Col. 3:4, R. Y .; 1 John 3:2, R. Y. ). Thé word translated “high” is the same word that is trans lated “ above” in John 8:23 and Gal. 4:26, in both which cases it doubtless refers to heaven, and it would give the thought to translate “ heavenly calling” here (cf. Heb. 3:1; Col. 3:1, 2; 2 Thess. 2:14). This “ high calling of God” is “ in Christ Jesus,” only through Him do we receive it and only in union with Him do we enter into it. SATURDAY, Oct. 19th. Phil. 8:15, 10. Paul has just denied that he was “ already made perfect,” but now he
914 Pet. 4:13, 14; Matt. 16:24; John 12: 26). Most of us shrink from these sufferings. Paul coveted them. In the matter of sufferings Paul would go the whole way with Christ, “ becoming con formed unto His death” (R. V .). Christ was obedient unto the will of God even unto death (eh. 2 :8), and Paul desired to he fashioned like unto Him even unto death, and Paul got his wish. THURSDAY, Oct. 17th. Phil. 8:11, 12. In being made a partaker of the suffering of Christ and becoming con formed unto His death, Paul expected to “ attain unto the resurrection from the dead.” By the words, “ if by any means I might attain unto the resur rection from the dead,” Paul does not express a doubt that he will attain unto it (cf. Rom. 8:29-39; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2 Cor. 4:14; 1 Thess.' 4:14), hut puts very strongly the importance of attaining unto the resurrection from the dead and the necessary condition. The phrase, “ the resurrection from the dead” is a very expressive one. Literally translated, it would be “ the out-resur rection, that out from the dead.” It clearly points to a resurrection of some out from the mass of the dead, a first resurrection (cf. Rev. 20:4, 5; 1 Cor. 15:23, 24; 1 Thess! 4:16). To attain unto this resurrection a knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrec tion and the fellowship of His suffer ings is necessary. Paul disclaims having already obtained all that there w;is in Christ (R. V.). He says that he was not “ already made perfect,” hut his face was steadfastly set toward that goal. He was “ pressing on” (or, pursuing). His object in thus “ pressing on” was that he might lay hold on , that for which Christ had laid hold upon him. Christ had laid hold upon Paul for a purpose, viz., to perfect and glorify him; and Paul presses on to seize that perfection and glorification for which Christ had seized him (cf. v. 14; Rom. 8:29, 30). FRIDAY, Oct. 18th. Phil. 3:18, 14. Paul now repeats in another form his statement that he had not yet obtained all that there was for him in Christ., He begins with the tender address, “ Brethren,” and continues, “ I count not myself yet to have appre hended.” The “ I” and “ myself”, are emphatic, as much as to say, “ whatever others may think of themselves,. I for my part count not myself,to have appre hended.” It is an unfortunate day for
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