30 June 2024

PRESSING FORWARD TOWARDS THE GOAL

(Going Forward in Christ: GFIC 26)

The Apostle Paul had an aspiration to know Christ intimately and was willing to die to self and to participate in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings (Phil.3:10). However, he tells us that even though he had tried his hardest, he had yet to achieve his goal. But he had the discipline to pursue Christ and made it a point not to be deterred by past failures.

This what he tried to do: “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” (Phil. 3:12-14 -NIV).

There are three things we need to do to progress spiritually and grow in intimacy with Christ.
1. Forget the Things that are Behind.
We must put the past behind us – with all its regrets, failures and disappointments. The devil will want us to cry over spilled milk and thus render us spiritually crippled and useless. He knows that regretting the past will keep us busy so that we cannot fight him. Let us put the past under the Blood of Jesus and face the present in His Grace and Power.

2. Straining Forward To What is Ahead.
Let us focus on going forward to pursue victory in Christ. There is much work to do for God, and much to achieve for His Kingdom. There are souls to win for Christ and the Unreached Peoples need to hear the Gospel. Do not let the devil distract us from our God-given Mission and discourage us from fulfilling the Great Commission.

3. Pressing Toward the Goal of Our High Calling.
Our high calling in Christ Jesus is Heaven and the Reward due to all the faithful saints. So let us live our lives to the hilt and achieve the goal of winning the Eternal Prize. Moses lived for God and was faithful in His Service despite all the sufferings and opposition he faced. We are told that “He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Heb.11:26). Paul fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. Then he said, “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 to all who love His Appearing” (2 Tim.4:7-8). Let us live for Christ and serve Him faithfully so that we may hear His welcome Voice saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the Joy of your Lord!” (Matt.25:21).

The greatest thing in life is to know Christ, to love Him and serve Him faithfully. This brings joy, peace and satisfaction in life and gives us the assurance that when we see Him, we will receive our due reward and be glorified with Him. PRAISE THE LORD! 

Click HERE to return to Going Forward In Christ series

Click HERE to return to Articles Main Menu