February 11
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PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL
12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. – Philippians 3:12-16
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In these passages from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we hear Paul encouraging the believers to press on toward the goal towards the purpose that Jesus has called them. He admits that he is still in the process of moving towards that goal of that call that God has called him. According to Jonathan Petersen’s article on “When was Each book of the bible written?”, the book of James was written in AD 44-49 which makes it the first book written in the New Testament and Philippians was written in AD 60-62. Paul must have been referring to “becoming perfect” in reference to James concept of being perfect is clearly stated in his book in his first chapter verses 2-4 which explains what perfection is in God’s eyes. It is when we rejoice in trial and suffering so that our endurance can grow and our faith and character grows so we can be content and not needing anything. The world on the other hand view perfection very differently. Most of Paul’s teachings goes back to James’ teachings as well.
The following verses talks about pressing on, in other words, enduring. Just as in a race, the athletes must be able to look ahead towards the goal to reach the prize, Paul also tells the believers to focus their gaze on the prize of eternity that is in Jesus. He admits to them that he hasn’t arrived yet and is still pressing on to that purpose that Christ has called him. Paul recommends that there must be no other distractions and trials that will make them stop looking forward to that goal of being with Jesus in the end. He talks about the mature believers who will not let anything come in the way of their growth or progress toward the goal of becoming more and more like Jesus. He advised them to not look back at their defeats but to get up and run the race to get to that goal and never let anything hinder them from that maturity that Jesus wants them to aim at.
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REFLECTION
• What can be some distractions that stop you from pressing on the goal to Jesus?