Holy dissatisfaction

Paul is consumed by the prospect of knowing Christ in this life and in the life to come. This gives rise to a holy dissatisfaction with his present attainments. In these verses, we have a guide, first, to assessing the present. Out of this, we - like Paul - should give ourselves to one thing. We must (abandoning the past and attacking the future) set out to attain to that great goal: the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.