This #ThoughtfulThursday Tony shares his thoughts on Philippians 3:12-14 …
The Holy Bible is an absolute treasure. It is our Highway Code for life. It is filled to overflowing with such wisdom. I honestly believe that without it I could not have survived the 70 years I have been a Christian. Each day I open it and find new nuggets.
There are so many special Scriptures which I love and which have helped me over the years. Perhaps I have used this scripture more than most so I shall start with this one.
Philippians 3 verses 12 to 14 “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 and sisters, 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 towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Sometimes, when I am seeking direction, The Holy Spirit will give me this scripture. This then is the beginning of a process. I may then take many hours praying over it and other scriptures, listening to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Very often the process will involve my repenting of things I have done wrong, also forgiving others if I feel they have done me wrong. I find that this process gives me a clear mind and I’ve been able to proceed to do what the Lord has shown me.
Paul shows himself as a runner, pressing toward the prize. This being Christ’s goal for him. Each of us Christians has been given a special place on the running track for his or her own service, and each one has a goal established by Christ. Our task in life is to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of us. Meditating on this passage of scripture has helped me re-focus.
How do we reach the goal God has set for us? We have to be honest with ourselves And admit where we are. Then we must keep our eyes of faith on Jesus and forget the past. Both past successes and past failures. We need to continue to press on enabled by the Holy Spirit focusing completely upon the Lord.
I believe that I have learned a lot from my grandson, Matty, watching him preparing for a race and then running it. Firstly, he separates from everyone else avoiding all distractions. When the gun goes off his total focus is on the finishing line.
Too many of us Christians live divided lives. One part of us enjoys the things of the world and the other part tries to live for the Lord. We get ambitious for worldly things and and are distracted more and more by the riches of this world. Our calling is a high calling and if we live for this world we lose the prize that goes with our Heavenly calling in Christ.