Sunday, January 27, 2013

Verse of the Day 1/27

Verse of the Day 1/27
 
Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  English Standard Version (ESV)
 
I read this quote yesterday from Thomas Manton from his book "The Life of Faith".  "Without faith virtue would languish, our command over our passions be weak, and the back of patience be broken, and our care of the knowledge of divine things very small. It is faith acting upon Christ in heaven, and the hopes of a better life, that sets all the wheels at work in the soul."  The thought that came to mind in reading this quote, this statement was that we will face times of weakness, or where our patience wears thin, and our cares can be oppressive.  It is times like these, virtually every day of life that Paul, that Jesus challenges us to press on in faith, press onward and upward.  These thoughts led me on to today's verse in Philippians 3.
 
Reading this verse in the ESV brought attention to "the upward call".  This reminded me of the old hymn "Higher Ground".
 
I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
 
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
 
Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven's tableland,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
 
No matter what we may face today, may we press on in faith and trust that Jesus will lift us up and let us stand, plant our feet on higher ground.  It won't come easy, if you read the preceding verse it involves forgetting what is behind and straining forward, but it can be accomplished through faith.
 
In Christ,
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
Philippians 3:13-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

No comments: