Called, Kept and Pressing On!

In last week's passage Paul declared his goal: "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"

In our passage this week, Paul is quick to point out that he hadn't yet achieved his goal. He none-the-less makes it clear that he was single minded in his pursuit of it. A pursuit, however, that was only made possible because he had first been called and kept by God.

To steal a verse (17) from next week, dear brothers and sisters, let us pattern our lives after Paul's and, knowing that we are continually called and kept by God, let us press on in our pursuit of knowing Christ and then experiencing the resurrection from the dead!