Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:16 ESV)
Getting Rid of Weeds
I am not a good gardener. When (very) occasionally I perform some yard work, deep in my heart I expect it to be finished. I cut that grass… why is it long again? I pulled those dandelions already… why is my yard yellow? I cleaned out that garden bed… why are the flowers once more camouflaged by weeds?
Upkeep… keeping the weeds back once they have been torn out… keeping on keeping on… are part of our walk with Jesus as well as gardening.
If Paul wanted us to treat our lives like a garden, he might have said, “hold tight,” or “hold fast,” or “hold on.”
And if he had, we should attempt to grit our teeth, furrow our brow, and try harder… but this verse urges us strangely to ‘hold true.’
Not hold to our efforts, but hold true.
That is a reference to the One who is true. The One, in fact, who is truth. Jesus.
First realize and accept and rejoice that we have attained growth, progress, improvement in thought, word, and deed ONLY through Christ Jesus. Christians do not work our way into a good walk with Him. He pulls us in.
We then can also realize and accept and rejoice that further progress in our walk will ONLY take place through Christ Jesus.
Holding true to what we have attained means keeping our eyes on Jesus, our feet in His steps, our hearts attuned to Him, our minds focused on Him.
I am not sure how this would work in my garden.
But it is the only way to hold true in our Christian walk.