I love the images in the Word found in this verse, because they are so solid and active. Firstly, Jesus has laid hold of me - a sure, firm grip. In that laying hold of I have security and purpose. Paul is real to the fact that the perfection of righteousness is a process, a working out, and it is apparently not a passive activity where we stand around and wait for Father God to pull the rotten parts off. Instead, we press on and "lay hold of that" (the righteousness). It is not that we are capable of doing it ourselves, but because of Jesus and because of the Holy Spirit we can now actively pursue the righteousness we will attain. It is similar to the command to "cast off the old man" - without Jesus, we cannot even consider doing that, but now that we are His, everything has changed. Press on and lay hold of the fullness God has called you into!

Philippians 3:12