Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV) Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Yesterday we considered how there are times when we "gotta go through it". It fits in well with the thought for today of "pressing on".
Many people would consider life to be a race. Unfortunately, for many, it is the rat race. The race to accumlate or to keep pace, keep of with the "Joneses". For the Christian, it is better viewed as a marathon. There are many points in a marathon that may be difficult. You may "hit the wall" midway through and then get your second wind and be able to finish. It may be at the end where you don't want to take another stride but you see the goal in sight so you press on.
The trials and illnesses in our lives can be like hitting the wall, losing stride, and can give us the feeling that we can't go another stride, no matter how short the step. Today's verse encourages us to press on knowing the "prize" that awaits us, the upward call.
We may think of the "upward call of Christ ulitimately leading to heaven. In an article "What will we remember in Heaven" John Piper writes, "as I try to discern what should be remembered and what should be forgotten, I answer: Remember whatever deepens your love to Christ and zeal to obey, and forget whatever would paralyze your will to follow him with joy."
John MacArthur writes that "the believer must refuse to rely on past virtuous deeds and achievements in ministry or to dwell on sins and failures. To be distracted by the past debilitates one's efforts in the present." Let us forget about that past and press on to a deeper love for God and others in the present looking towards that ultimate goal.
In Christ,
Mike
Mike
Follow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
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