7〔在腓立比三章十二至十五节，〕使徒保罗告诉我们，他怎样在基督的生命上追求长大成熟。在这事上，他从未自满自足，总是竭力追求，忘记背后，努力面前，向着基督这标竿、目标直跑，要得着基督，使他能在祂的生命上长大成熟。他以他这样的追求作榜样，劝勉他所带领并关心的信徒，要他们像他一样，在基督的生命上竭力追求，丰满地得着基督，好叫他们长大成熟。结果他说，我们凡是（比较）长成的人，都要思念这事，以这事为目标（生命课程卷四，三五○至三五一页）。
7The apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:12-15 how he pursued growth and maturity in the life of Christ. In this matter, he was never contented with himself but always pursued, forgetting the things which were behind and stretching forward to the things which were before, pressing toward Christ, who is the goal and the mark. This he did in order to gain Christ that he might grow and mature in His life. With his own pursuit as the pattern, he exhorted the believers whom he was leading and caring for to be like him, to pursue in the life of Christ, and to gain Christ fully in order that they might grow and mature. Finally, Paul said that as many of us as are (relatively) full-grown should have this mind and set this as the goal. (Life Lessons, vol. 4, pp. 71-72)