Tag Archives: I press on

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…THE GOAL – 13e

Bible Study, ,

“Not 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. 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 toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For Paul, the path to the prize was simple…but not easy. He had to navigate a host of obstacles on his way to the podium. Like a competitor in the Olympic Games…the only way to win was to stay in the race and keep his eyes on the medal. If he became distracted by what happened around him, he would lose focus, fall away, and forfeit the prize. 

Paul’s strategy was carefully planned. 

Paul’s resolve…to finish the race, no matter what! “I press on…” he said…through dark and difficult days…over and past obstacles and hindrances…never giving way to temptation, or folding under suffering, fear, loneliness, opposition, persecution…

Paul refused to slow down. “I press on…” he repeated. He didn’t slacken off at the half-way mark…take a break when he was tired…need a holiday from his calling… take a “Sabbatical” to regroup…He pressed on, mile after mile, towards the prize that lay just ahead. 

Paul recognised that, to win the prize, he must finish the race. The prize was his only goal. Everything else must bow to his purpose. The prize was always ahead. He must reach the winning post. He must not stop before the end.  Those who had gone ahead of him awaited his arrival…at the finish line…to applaud his faithfulness. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

There is a prize at the end of the race…but only for those who complete the race. We have the supreme example to follow…Jesus…who ran right through death to gain His prize…all of us who finish the race. His prize is us…and our prize is Him. 

One more thing…

Paul chose never to remember his past. He never looked back. He never allowed his past to influence, hinder, or affect his future. Jesus had obliterated his past. It was blotted out by the  blood of the Lamb. God had chosen to forget every sin and every failure…we call it “selective memory!” Paul had a clean slate. He could run…unhindered by guilt, shame, or fear. 

Paul had taken to heart the one great truth of the gospel…the perfect love of God. 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This truth was his covering…his companion…and his energy. 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our )Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Armed with this reassurance, and strengthened by God’s love, Paul knew that his prize was secure. 

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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 also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Are you still running or taking a break? Only those who keep running to the end will gain the crown. 

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…THE PRIZE- 13d

Bible Study, ,

“Not 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. 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 toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 Paul was passionate about one thing…eventually to arrive at the same place that God intended for him…and he was clear about the steps he would take to get there. 

When Paul let go of the all his qualifications and achievements, his reward was pain, suffering, and struggles. Unlike some other religions, that urge conquest over their enemies in this life by whatever means possible, including force and violence…and sensual pleasures as the reward… Paul’s battle was not against enemies outside himself, but the enemy within. He discovered that he was his own worst enemy, his selfish old nature demanding to be satisfied at the expense of others….which would end in death. 

As Paul gradually gained the upper hand over himself, so winning the prize at the end of the road became more real and more compelling. What was Paul’s aspiration? What was the promise towards which he strained with all his attention and effort? 

Paul does not identify the prize in this letter but he gives it shape and colour in some of his other communications. However, unlike any earthly prize, that is displayed unwrapped…beckoning the contestants by its value and beauty…he discovered that this prize was wrapped in the strangest of covering…not the promise of conquest and victory in this life… but suffering…not just suffering…but  the way he processed the suffering. 

“…So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…not just the usual consequences of life on a fallen planet. The  way to endure the suffering is the way to win the prize, which is as specific as the prize itself. In his letter to the church in Rome,  Paul wrote…

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For the children of God, suffering has a specific purpose. It is a condition and a preparation for receiving the prize that awaits us in the age to come. The prize follows the purifying process of suffering and qualifies us to receive the prize. 

In broad terms, Paul explains both the process and the prize…

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you get it?

It’s not about the suffering. It’s about the way the suffering is handled and what the suffering produces! The “all things” that life dishes up to us, are not random but specific…controlled and orchestrated by a loving God…

…and the prize? Exact replicas of Jesus! God’s glory…the weight of who God is, reproduced in us…Jesus the blueprint…His image restored!

John explained it like this…

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s the prize! 

Now, let’s explore the process.  Peter reveals to us that there is one form of suffering that replicates the suffering of Jesus…the one temptation He suffered and overcame that qualified Him to be the atoning sacrifice for sin. 

“For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Suffering injustice without retaliation! That is the worst and most difficult temptation for any human to endure. Rebellion against God, in all its sinful expressions, is essentially the way we react to what we perceive as God’s “unfairness” towards us. It started in the Garden of Eden. 

Jesus showed us the way to win this one!

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus took everything that sinful humanity could throw at Him without reacting in a sinful way. He remained true to who He was…the submissive and obedient Son of God. 

“He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth…Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭3‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

That’s the blueprint, the model, the process. Obedience wins the prize!

To be continued

PARTNERS WITH PERSEVERANCE

Bible Study, ,

Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
[12] “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Partnering with God throughout life to gain the eternal prize demands a persistence that never gives up, through thick and thin.

If we consider what it took to keep Paul on track through his times of horrific suffering, we realise that he was in an all-out war on many fronts. If ever the devil had a target, it was the Apostle Paul. Yet, he gave the devil no credit for his suffering, except on one occasion. In his desperation, he cried out to the Lord for relief but God said, “No!”. It was the hardships Paul endured that shaped him into the resilient man he became and a true son.

2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT
[10] “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

In the face of opposition and persecution, Paul argued for his qualification to speak with authority. HE NEVER GAVE UP.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 NLT
[23] “Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. [24] Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. [26] I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. [27] I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”

Is there any other person who has ever suffered or done more than Paul to be faithful to his mission and to fulfill his calling?

Why did Paul endure all this? Why didn’t he throw in the towel when his life seemed too painful to carry on?

Paul, first, had a calling from God to suffer. Suffering was part of his mandate to take the gospel to the Gentiles, from the lowliest to the highest.

Acts of the Apostles 9:15-16 NLT
[15] “But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. [16] And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Paul regarded his suffering as a privilege. Suffering was part of the package that identified him with Jesus and qualified him to participate in his inheritance with Jesus.

Romans 8:17 NLT
[17] “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

What was, for Paul, the most painful part of the suffering that he shared with Jesus?

Isaiah 53:3 NLT
[3]”He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT
[10] “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul’s identity with Jesus in His death, especially the pain of rejection, gave him access to the power of God’s grace so that he could accept suffering as God’s gift, a privilege to participate in resurrection power. Thus he could write…

Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT
[19] “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power [20] that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”

What is this “resurrection power”?
It’s not the kind of power we think of as POWER, for example, the destructive power of nature. This power gives us the ability to overcome our selfish, dominating, driving old nature with its passion for self-satisfaction, to serve others for Jesus’s sake with unselfish love. This power, the Holy Spirit in us, has raised us to a new life through death to self. Now that’s real power when we see what devastation selfishness creates in the world. The old nature, self, has destroyed everything in our world, from individuals to nations.

Only when the determination to overcome and rule our old nature keeps us living by faith in the power of the Spirit, will we reach that goal of perfection when we see Jesus. You see, persistent faith has a goal. Paul called it a “heavenly prize”, but this prize is only for those who win the race…

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
[1] “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

…a race that is not about who comes first but about who finishes the course.

Every “finisher” will receive the prize, perfect likeness to Jesus! Now that’s a prize worth the endurance!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT
[16] “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. [17] For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! [18] So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

HUMILITY OR ADMISSION OF GUILT?

Christian Life, ,

Something has caught my attention in recent days as I have thought and written about pride and humility. Is there such a thing as false humility? Is it possible that, by drawing attention to our spiritual failures, we are admitting guilt rather than being humble about our weaknesses?

Confession of our faults to a trusted friend is one thing but airing our failures in public is something different.

Paul counsels his Corinthian readers not to receive God’s grace and then ignore it.

2 Corinthians 6:1 NIV
[1] “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.”

“God’s grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us. One of the greatest ways He shows us grace is through the forgiveness of our sins after our heartfelt repentance and submission to God’s laws. But this verse warns we can “receive the grace of God in vain.” This essentially means we can begin to live in such a way that nullifies the grace we have received. The Bible is clear that we must obey God in order to receive His grace (Romans 6:1-2, 14-15).”
https://lifehopeandtruth.com>blog

By harping on our failures as though they show how humble we are, we are exposing our disobedience to God’s word by not availing ourselves of his grace.

Let’s look at Paul’s life and witness to see how this worked out for him.

Paul both admitted his failure, on occasion calling himself the worst of sinners, (although he was referring to his pre-conversion life), and spoke of his spiritual growth as an overcomer.

He penned the story of his struggle with the flesh in Romans 7. However, this chapter is neither a show of humility nor an admission of guilt. It is a description of his progress from struggling to understand his old nature and its hold on him to the discovery of victory through the power of God’s grace in Christ.

Much of his understanding of God’s grace in salvation and sanctification came through his own experience. So, he could write more than once, “We know…” Paul neither denied his weakness nor used it as an excuse not to apply God’s grace in his own life through obeying God’s Word.

He unashamedly testified to those times when he advanced in knowledge and experience to overcome the power of his old nature and grow in God’s grace.

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV
[12] “Not 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. [13] 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, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I love Paul’s attitude. “I’m not there yet but I’m sure doing everything I can to get there!”

At the end of his life, in anticipation of his reward, he said to Timothy, and to us who read his letter…

2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT
[6] “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. [8] And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

Paul’s humility lay in his confession, “I’m not there yet…” and his testimony, “I’ve completed my assignment.” The two together make up the story of his life.

What about us? Are we telling the truth or drawing attention to a false humility when we speak of our failures? Do we accept our weaknesses and avail ourselves of God’s grace to overcome or do we hide behind our weaknesses as an excuse for our failures?

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT
[8] “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As our quote reminds us, God provides all the grace we need when we obey His word.

A NOBLE ASPIRATION

Bible Study, ,

A NOBLE ASPIRATION

“Not that I have already attained 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. 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 toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14.

Paul’s goal really sounds like pie in the sky, doesn’t it? It would be if this life were all he ever had to live for. It all depended on his perspective.

Paul had a powerful awareness that there was something far better awaiting him in the life to come. He viewed his earthly life, not as an end in itself but as an apprenticeship for the real life which began with his shocking encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road and would reach its fullness when he left his earthly tent for his eternal home with Christ.

Like an Olympic athlete who shed every unnecessary encumbrance in order to win the race, Paul ran his race with as little of his futile old ways as possible. His goal was to embrace the faith life that led him ever deeper into an intimate knowledge of his Lord. Why was knowing Christ so important to him? He was not straining to know about Jesus. The life of this unique Man could have piqued his interest but done nothing more for him than knowing about any other unusual or significant person of his day.

Knowing about his own spiritual forefather, Moses, would not have enabled him to become like him, nor would he have wanted to. He had his own weaknesses and failings to contend with, without aspiring to be like Moses!

But knowing Jesus was a whole different ball-game. “Knowing” in this context, implies something far deeper than knowing Him even as a friend. It has the connotation of intimacy that produces something, just as intimacy between a husband and wife produces an offspring in their likeness. Why did Jesus take hold of him? He called Paul into intimacy with Him so that He could impregnate him with His “seed”. His word would reproduce Himself in Paul first. Then Paul was to take it to the nations to reproduce Him in the life of every person who received the seed.

With this goal in view, Paul bent every effort towards fulfilling Christ’s purpose for him. This was not only his calling but the calling of every person who embraces Jesus Christ as Lord. Paul called it a “mystery” – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). God’s design from the beginning was to have a family of human sons and daughters created in His image and living in perfect harmony with Him and with one another.

Paul used this very imagery as he agonised over the Galatian believers who were on the brink of turning away from Jesus to Judaism.

“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ be formed in you…” Galatians 4:19.

God sent Jesus in person to be the model son and to die in our place to remove all barriers between us and the Father. He sent His Spirit to live in us just as He lived in Jesus to ensure that His plan would work. But there is one thing God cannot do. He cannot invade our right to choose. It’s up to every believer in Jesus to do as Paul did – shed the baggage and run the race, unencumbered by any notion that we can win the prize through self-effort.

The whole enterprise is based on faith – faith in what Christ has achieved for us, and faith in God that He will accomplish His goal through us, to gather His family back to Himself from the ends of the earth and to restore in them the image of His Son. And what is the prize we are straining to win? Glory! God’s own nature, free from the ravages of sin that brought death to the human race and to God’s entire creation.

There were two others in the Biblical record, apart from Paul, who aspired to do “one thing”. 

In Psalm 27, David expressed his fervent desire:

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4.

Jesus Himself commended Mary:

“…Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said… ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord said, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'” Luke 10:39b; 41-42.

What guarantee do we have that God will do it? We have His word that it will happen.

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'” Revelation 21:1-4.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.