December 19, 2021 PRESSING ON
Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold if it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
There is more. We have not arrived. The calling of God is continual; it is a lifetime of increasing in the knowledge of Him. If we are not pressing on in our spiritual journey, we will find ourselves living on a spiritually plateau, or perhaps on a deep downward slope. The passage above serves as a warning to us not to become spiritually lazy. God called each of us for a purpose and just as Paul did, we must “lay hold for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” Each of us have a specific call from God that is just for us; but all believers are called to certain things. As believers, we are called to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18. One primary way to grow in our knowledge of Him is to read and study His word because He reveals Himself through His word. We may listen to good sermons-we let the ‘preacher’ study for us-and listen to good worship songs, and may read good daily devotions, BUT these are no substitute for personally reading and studying His word. Our motivation for reading His word should not be out of feeling obligated to do so, but rather to discover just how awesome God is-His word gives life. Our purpose in reading His word is not just to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge; our purpose is to increase in our knowledge of Him and to know Him personally. There is one important truth that we must not overlook as we read His word; obeying and acting on His word is essential if we are to grow in Him; knowledge alone does not change us. Pressing on in the calling of God means that we keep at it even when things are difficult; it means we do not give up; it means refusing to live according to our flesh; and it means we are not distracted from our pursuit of knowing God more fully. To press on, we must forget what lies behind. All too often, remembering failures and mistakes of the past becomes a stumbling block for moving forward. Even being focused on our past successes and our ‘mountain top experiences’ with the Lord can get us off track from pressing on. Pressing on also means that we must be reaching forward to what lies ahead. The past is the past; God is current, and His plans and His purposes are moving forward, AND He invites us to be a part of what He is doing. God has a purpose for each of us, and it is our part to keep pressing on in our pursuit to ‘lay hold’ of what God has for us. When we are pursuing Him and His ways, it will be evident in the life we live. There are rewards for those who press on in the things of the Lord. Paul said that he was pressing on “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We have but one life to live; let us be men and woman who are pressing on in seeking all that God has for us.
Colossians 1:9b-10 “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Blessings,
Buddy
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