Stagnation and momentum both can lead to growth, but very different kinds. Stagnant water will grow bacteria, algae and other unpleasant things, while running water gives us life.
Here, Paul writes about the momentum he seeks in his own life, and that he calls the Philippians to.
He cites the “momentum of maturity.” Paul is not perfect, but recognizes his own deficiencies and opportunities for growth. True perfection lies in grasping at the life that Christ lived.
Here at Seed we try to live this out by accepting people where they are, but not being content that they stay that way. This is true no matter whether someone is an unrepentant sinner whose life is in a self-made shambles, or an upstanding, well-respected person of faith and love. None of us have yet reached the goals set for us by Christ.
Christ himself takes hold of us to move us forward in the plans He has for us to do His work, in addition to living out the example for us.
Paul was motivated by two things, then. First, his own depravity – just how far he has to go – and second, how much Christ loves him and what He wants for him. As Tim Keller has said, we are worse than we think we are, but more loved than we can possibly imagine.
So Paul has done a self assessment, has taken the internet quiz and knows there is work to be done. Where we don’t match up with Christ, we must change in order to change that. But rather than reflecting on the past, Paul looks to the future. We should learn from our past but not dwell on it. We cannot let either past pain or past glories rob us of our momentum. We can’t let memories of the “good old days” cause us to miss out on what God has for us in the present.
And what is that? Paul’s language is aggressive and forward-moving: “press on,” “take hold”, “strain towards”. We are not to live in apathy or to “let go and let God.” Rather, even though we know the race is won for us, we must keep running.
But we get the power to keep running from Jesus as well. We can have confidence that God works in our lives, moving us closer to the perfection He desires for us. God loves us, as a church and as individuals, more than we ourselves do.
Mature people, Paul writes, think this way, seeking always to die to self and live in Christ. While the goal itself is presently unattainable, the mature understand this and rely on the power of Christ to move us forward.
This maturity is an attitude of perseverance and never giving up, as we seek to live up to what Christ has attained for us.
– Sermon Notes, Jeff Krabach, Seed Church, Lynnwood, WA, September 30, 2018
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