Attitudes and Actions
Philippians 3:12-14
We were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character.
Getting "entirely ready" to have God remove "all" our defects of character sounds impossible. In reality we know that such perfection is out of reach. This is another way of saying that we're going to do our best to approach a lifelong goal, which no one ever completes this side of eternity.
The apostle Paul expressed a similar thought. He said, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. . . . Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:12-14).
This combination of a positive attitude and energetic effort is a part of the mystery of our cooperation with God. Paul said, "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:12-13).
We'll need to practice these steps the rest of our lives. We don't have to demand perfection of ourselves. It is enough to keep moving ahead as best we can. We should look forward to our rewards, with hopes of becoming all God intends us to be.
Hoping in Christ, we can let go of past guilt and look ahead to the good things God has planned for us.
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