Our Resolve to Apprehend


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. (Php 3:12)


As we encounter failures, depression, frustration, lack of victory in our Christian life there can arise the danger of excuses that attaining to the stature of which God our Father has ordained (Eph 1: 4, 5) is not for me but for other 'spiritual giants'. And with that we may give up following after, pursuing with vigor as Paul did and we start to stagnate or worst still end up back sliding. The tendency is to let go of that which we were first apprehended of Christ and start to cling on to another thing is doesn’t bear any resemblance to His life, the Abundance of Life He promised.


By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Heb 11:8)


Christ has apprehended us, but do we do our part of apprehending? Are we ready to allow ourselves to be taken custody under the authority of Christ? People generally dislike being out of control, being ‘in-control’ is where we find our own footing. Having Christ master over us is something most of us will strife against because it will rock our boat and there could be times He will even command us to get out of that boat of comfort and safety to walk on water to step into His unknown. To step out into Christ’s unknown is called ‘faith’. Faith brings into reality the promises of God and more so of Himself but with the prerequisite of letting go and clinging to His Word. Nothing else but His Word, for it comes with the responding to our hearing (Rom 10:17). Are we satisfied with just His Word or still looking for tangibles as crutches (John 20:29), for if we have the understanding that He magnified His Word above His name (Psa 138:2) His Word becomes the breath and energy of faith.


Have we been apprehended of Christ Jesus? If so have we resolved to apprehend with following after, pursuing vigor that sets us on the journey of conforming to Christ our Perfection..... ‘may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless’ (2 Pet 3:14). Is there a greater mastering of Christ over more and more areas of our life with lesser self-influence (John 3:30) even if it means understanding to the fullest of knowing Him... and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death (Php 3:10).