Week 2 Day 1: Why do we press on, of what do we lay hold?

We have a short portion to read this week, which gives more time to meditate on the specific phrases in these three verses.

First, though, it is important to understand the context. These verses come at the end of a paragraph beginning with verse 1 of chapter three, which in turn continues the train of thought from Chapter 2, particularly the first half.

To summarise, if I may, Paul's main points are:
Work together in humility
Christ is our great example of humility in service and suffering
Encouragement to continue in obedience to God and testimony of God, as they have already been doing - not to lose heart.
(Timothy will be coming to help encourage, and to bring more news back to Paul)
Beware of those who put their trust in works - warning against legalism
After all, if legalism worked, Paul would have been the best at getting to heaven.
But none of it is of value - our only hope is in Christ, and our only goal is to be with Christ.
And then we come to our verses...
"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. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."


There is repetition of 'apprehended' - to lay hold upon. Reaching forth goes along with the same concept - reaching out to grab something so we can lay hold of it, so we can apprehend it. Pressing toward the mark is a step back from that, again with the theme - I haven't yet got hold of it, so I reach for it. I haven't yet reached it/got it within reaching distance, so I keep press on/moving forward towards it.

There are a few other race metaphors in Scripture, but the emphasis here seems to be firstly on the goal - our all consuming goal, our entire focus - and secondly on the endurance. Not fully there, but moving toward it. No mention of the pace at which we are moving, so long as it is the right direction, and our eyes are fixed on the right target. Also, if we are reaching out to lay hold on this (the high calling of God in Christ Jesus), then we are not holding on to anything else - our arms are outstretched and our hands are open, reaching for this goal.