Pressing Forward

The Christian Life

Pressing Forward

Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 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.”

At the beginning of each new year, we often see it as a time of opportunity to renew the goals and priorities in our lives. A time for fresh starts and getting back on course. It takes a strong commitment and a plan to be successful in staying the course. As Christians, our goals change when we believe in Jesus and put our trust in Him and the life He calls us to. Scripture describes our goal as putting off the old sinful life and practices and to put on acts of righteousness as imitators of Jesus. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

Paul, the writer of Philippians, starts off by confirming two important facts in v12. First, it is Christ who had claimed him, not vice versa. This is why Jesus told His disciples “you did not choose me but I chose you”. (John 15:16) Secondly, his call to action. In the latter part of that verse (John 15:16) Jesus says “and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit”. Christians are not passive but active in response to Christ. Paul’s “straining toward what is ahead” also has in sight the rewards (prize) of God’s calling on him.

“no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" the things God has prepared for those who love Him“. (1 Corinthians 2:9) Heaven, for all eternity, far exceeds anything our senses can comprehend. “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) Paul reminds us that those things lost to us for following Christ are as nothing compared to the gain in knowing Christ. Most of us today haven’t experienced loss of freedom, being stoned, shipwrecked, whipped, imprisoned, and left for dead as Paul did for following Jesus. Paul says it is nothing by comparison to the gain we will receive and to keep pressing forward at all cost.

“Therefore, my dear friends, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him”. (Philippians 2:12-13 NLT)

Not to work for salvation but to work out our salvation, is to be actively and continually renewing our mind and behavior through following God’s word. Amazingly, God supplies the desire and ability to do this. (v13) The terms fear and trembling envision guarded reverence for God as the infinitely wise and powerful creator.

Not resting on past achievements nor giving up because of failures, but pressing onward for the one who claims us and what lies ahead!

Come!

Colby Reeves – member

Evangel Church PCA Alabaster, Al
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evangelchurchpca.org