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Read Introduction to Philippians

 

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

 

Now, at last, we discover Paul’s goal. What was the purpose of his life? His life-long aspiration was the smile of Jesus Christ at their meeting in heaven.

“I press toward the goal”

“Press toward” expresses the idea of pursuing after or follow earnestly. Paul kept his eye on the goal. He did not allow anything to deter him from his goal. As a marathon runner, this man of God kept his eye on the finish. He followed earnestly after the wreath. He was not going through the paces. He would not stop to talk to the fans in the stands even though the race was over 20 miles. Time was too precious for that. 

It is the devil’s business to distract us from the goal. If we take time to answer the bystanders, the critics, we lose precious time and focus. If we indulge ourselves with anger, we will not finish well. “But the media told lies about me. Some of the fans made unfair remarks about my running.” That thinking will deflect us from our ultimate goal.

We will get the prize when we reach the goal. The goal has not arrived yet. We look for our Savior’s words:

Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things” (Matt. 25:21).

PRINCIPLE: 

We need to “press” toward the goal. 

APPLICATION: 

Anything less than pressing toward God’s goal for our lives will deflect us from finishing well. Have you started the race? Have you received a spiritual birth from God? If so, have you left the starting blocks? Have you begun to run the Christian life? Have you ever heard the starter’s pistol? Have you responded to our Lord’s challenge to live a focused life for His glory? Did you leap off the starting blocks and then slow down? Is your Christian life less robust now than at the beginning? Have you slowed down to a jog? Are you loping along through your Christian life? Some of us may have slowed to a walk. Others may be standing still. Yet others have sat down. Some have even laid down their spiritual life, which is why they are called “laymen!!”

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