Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
“Through prayer to God I have obtained the privilege of seeing your most worthy faces, and have even been granted more than I requested; for I hope as a prisoner in Christ Jesus to salute you, if indeed it be the will of God that I be thought worthy of attaining unto the end. For the beginning has been well ordered, if I may obtain grace to cling to my lot without hindrance unto the end. For I am afraid of your love, lest it should do me an injury. For it is easy for you to accomplish what you please; but it is difficult for me to attain to God, if ye spare me.”
Ignatius of Antioch (c.110) in To The Romans (Roberts-Donaldson Translation).
For his Christian faith, Ignatius was arrested in Antioch and led from Antioch to Rome to face trial (c. 105-115). He visited disciples of Jesus along the way and wrote them letters to encourage them.
These letters — to the Smyrnaeans, Philadelphians, Romans, Trallians, Magnesians, and Ephesians — are part of a wonderful collection called The Apostolic Fathers.
In this, his letter to the Romans we see similar language as Paul in his letter to the Philippians. We see the language of not stopping with having obtained something but also attaining (or straining) toward a goal.
Pause and ponder with me in order to see the connection to gratitude and your own generosity. Otherwise, like many you may be tempted to give up (and you don’t want that kind of giving in these hard times)!
When we obtain a privilege. It is not for us alone but for our sharing. When we obtain progress, it is not for us to stop, but rather to press on to the goal in humble service and to finish well.
Take a moment to assess what you have obtained in 2023. Now consider with gratitude that maybe you have have received this blessing or grace in order to attain to some greater end as part of God’s will for you.
Thank God for what you have obtained but don’t stop there. Ask Him what He wants you to attain to from here. And with Ignatius, I pray that God will help all of us obtain grace so we may attain well unto the end!