Part Four

Pressing On for the Prize

“I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:13b

In elementary school, I was always chosen last for any teams, and I dreaded field day competitions. I tried to play basketball with little success. Years later, when I tried softball, I stood in the outfield praying that no balls would come my way. So, you would think that Paul’s racing comparison might not really resonate with me, but it does. Whether it’s a physical race or some other pursuit, all of us, at some point or another, have set out to accomplish a goal and have found that doing so is not as easy as we may have first thought.

In Philippians 3, Paul talks about this in terms of our Christian walk. While our relationship with God is based on what Jesus did for us, not on what we do for Him, our actions show our allegiance. Basically, how we run this race of life helps others know the team for which we run.

However, achieving a goal is hard work. If you are running a marathon or stitching a quilt, time, effort, and resources are demanded. Paul is encouraging us to not allow our circumstances or feelings to dictate the way in which we live. We should, instead, be like athletes—more consistent, more devoted, and more disciplined.

When my oldest son, Sjon-Paul, was a young baseball player, he spent many an afternoon repeatedly “pretending” to pitch. With a kitchen towel in his pitching hand, he would stand in our living room. There, he would wind up, step and “throw” the towel forward again and again. In this way, he was literally training his muscles to “memorize” the appropriate actions so that when he stood on a real mound, they would automatically perform in the correct way.

This is the same kind of training that Christians should be taking part in every day. No, we won’t be practicing to pitch, but we can train for godliness.  In 1 Timothy 4:8, Paul says, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

If we, like Paul, really want to “know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead,” then we need to be more intentional in our efforts to prepare for day-to-day Christian living. We need to set aside time with God so that He can teach us, prepare us, and equip us to have the strength to live as He directs.

Living a life that is God-glorifying, a life that matters for the kingdom of Heaven, is similar to any other pursuit. Sometimes, it’s smooth sailing. The wind is at your back, and you’re making real headway. Other times, there are obstacles to be overcome.  God doesn’t want us to rest on previous successes or quit because of past failures. He wants us to keep living in faith, striving for “perfection” in Him. By spending time in training, we can make sure that we are better prepared to handle whatever comes our way.  

July 19, 2020

Dear Lord,

This weekend I have been reminded of how quickly time passes and convicted of how little time I spend in prayer. God, I know that I have the Holy Spirit living in me and that through Him I have the same power available to me that the men and women of (the Bible) did. I also realize that Power is utilized best through prayer and Bible study. God, I want to be a woman of prayer. Please help me, Lord. Forgive me for my laziness and complacency. How can I fight Satan’s attacks without You? I know that he is strong, but You, Lord, are stronger… Lord, I pray that You would give me daily fresh doses of You, that You would help me to discern truth in a world of lies, that You would guide me in the ways I should go…Help me God to have wisdom to hear Your voice…

In Your Name,

Amen

Devotional Challenge: In the coming week, read Philippians Chapter 4 every day.