October 22, 2015
Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:12-16
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Questions for Reflection:
Do you ever feel like you’re consistently falling short of what God would want you to be? Did Paul think that he had already arrived at his goal? How did Paul deal with his shortcomings? What was his attitude? What words in the passage above clue you into his attitude?
The phrase “press on” carries the idea of a military on mission chasing after another army. Another image often associated with the phrase was a hunter pursuing their prey. What drives that focus for Paul? The motivation for his pursuit of Jesus was his understanding that “Christ Jesus took hold of [him].” When Jesus Christ captures your life, it changes how you view each and every single day. Our desire, our goal should shift to pursuing more of Him. How can you press on, strain toward that goal today?