Growth and Sanctification
The path of growth and sanctification in the Christian starts with the desire to be like Jesus. After all, that is the point. Romans 8:28 says that God is working out ALL things (good circumstances and seemingly bad circumstances for your good. What's the good? The next verse (Rom 8:29) says to be conformed into the image of the Son. In other words, in every circumstance God has a plan and that plan is to make you like Jesus. Is that your plan in life? Do you want to be like Jesus no matter what?
The Apostle Paul's desire was to be like Jesus no matter what, Philippians 3:12-14.
"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul is intentional. Paul is passionate. He is focused. He is determined. He is straining forward for one thing: grow in his relationship with Jesus and His call as a Christian. If there is anyone who could afford to take it easy and kind of relax in what he had already attained, it was Paul. After all, he heard the audible voice of God. He wrote a bunch of the New Testament. His handkerchief healed people. He is hands down, the greatest missionary our faith has ever seen; yet here he is near the end of his life saying, "No, no, no, no, no. I'm not that man yet." I'm straining forward. I'm pressing on to know Him and experience Him more.
