Philippians 3:10-14
I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow
to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all
this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which
Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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.
Even though my focus will be on part of verse 13 where Paul says, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me," I couldn't leave the rest out. Paul is sharing his heart's desire. When I personalize part of verse 13 and imagine Christ speaking to me, it might go something like this, "Press on, Cherri to take hold of that for which I took hold for you." Paul uses the phrase "press on" twice in these four verses. He knows how difficult the Christian life can be. He experienced it first hand. He is encouraging me to not give up; to persevere in what God's called me to do, keeping my eyes fixed on the goal.
I can hear God saying, "Don't give up. Keep going." Christ loved me enough to come to earth in the form of man as a baby and then into adulthood. He willingly allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross so the penalty for my sins could be paid; so that I could have a relationship with God. The Voice states Philippians 3:12-13 this way, "I'm not there yet, nor have I become perfect; but I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me - and nothing will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won't let me go." I like how that's worded, "...He has grabbed me and won't let me go." If He loves me enough to hold on tightly and not let go, then I need to give Him my all. Love is a powerful motivator that can cause me to do things for someone I wouldn't normally do for another. God demonstrated His love in sending His Son to die for my sins. One way I can demonstrate my love for God is to persevere in what He's called me to do.
Christ could have easily come down from that cross; He didn't have to allow Himself to be nailed to it, but He knew it would be the only way to atone for my sins. He didn't give up then, and He doesn't give up on me now, when I fail Him so often. I must keep going. Paul tells me one way to do that. I need to forget my past and all the junk that may be there; all my failures, and sins; anything from the past that Satan uses to distract me from my focus. Like a runner, I need to keep my eyes fixed ahead of me at the goal, being made complete in Christ; one day attaining that resurrection from the dead; one day sitting at His feet for eternity worshiping and praising Him, the One who loves me beyond human comprehension!
Paul, as well as the author of Hebrews, refers to the Christian life as a race.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs;
one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold
medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I
don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it
everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition.
I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about it and then
missing out myself.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also
to all who have longed for His appearing.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him
endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
When my I near the end of my journey here on this earth, I want to be able to look back and, like Paul, say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Father, help me press on. Help me to persevere and not give up. You tell me in Isaiah that You will give me strength and power when I am weary and discouraged. Thank you that I don't walk this journey alone.
I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship
of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow
to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all
this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which
Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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.
Even though my focus will be on part of verse 13 where Paul says, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me," I couldn't leave the rest out. Paul is sharing his heart's desire. When I personalize part of verse 13 and imagine Christ speaking to me, it might go something like this, "Press on, Cherri to take hold of that for which I took hold for you." Paul uses the phrase "press on" twice in these four verses. He knows how difficult the Christian life can be. He experienced it first hand. He is encouraging me to not give up; to persevere in what God's called me to do, keeping my eyes fixed on the goal.
I can hear God saying, "Don't give up. Keep going." Christ loved me enough to come to earth in the form of man as a baby and then into adulthood. He willingly allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross so the penalty for my sins could be paid; so that I could have a relationship with God. The Voice states Philippians 3:12-13 this way, "I'm not there yet, nor have I become perfect; but I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me - and nothing will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won't let me go." I like how that's worded, "...He has grabbed me and won't let me go." If He loves me enough to hold on tightly and not let go, then I need to give Him my all. Love is a powerful motivator that can cause me to do things for someone I wouldn't normally do for another. God demonstrated His love in sending His Son to die for my sins. One way I can demonstrate my love for God is to persevere in what He's called me to do.
Christ could have easily come down from that cross; He didn't have to allow Himself to be nailed to it, but He knew it would be the only way to atone for my sins. He didn't give up then, and He doesn't give up on me now, when I fail Him so often. I must keep going. Paul tells me one way to do that. I need to forget my past and all the junk that may be there; all my failures, and sins; anything from the past that Satan uses to distract me from my focus. Like a runner, I need to keep my eyes fixed ahead of me at the goal, being made complete in Christ; one day attaining that resurrection from the dead; one day sitting at His feet for eternity worshiping and praising Him, the One who loves me beyond human comprehension!
Paul, as well as the author of Hebrews, refers to the Christian life as a race.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs;
one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold
medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. I
don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it
everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition.
I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about it and then
missing out myself.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also
to all who have longed for His appearing.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let us
throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let
us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him
endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
When my I near the end of my journey here on this earth, I want to be able to look back and, like Paul, say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
Father, help me press on. Help me to persevere and not give up. You tell me in Isaiah that You will give me strength and power when I am weary and discouraged. Thank you that I don't walk this journey alone.
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