I think my favorite book in the NT has to be the book of Philippians and my favorite chapter, chapter three. It’s full of inspiring analogies and I would like to call your attention to one. It starts in verse 12 and runs through verse 14 and is all about the Christian race!

In verse 12 Paul refers back to his desire in verses 10-11 to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection…sharing in His sufferings”. By that I believe he meant that through sharing His sufferings he could IDENTIFY with Him and really become more intimate in his relationship. Isn’t it great that God gives us that opportunity? Jesus was a suffering Savior and ALL suffering allows us into a closer relationship!

Then in verse 12 Paul talks about “pressing on” using the analogy of a runner , a favorite theme with Paul. The analogy is a runner in the Greek Olympic Games and in order to qualify the runner had to be a citizen of the country he represented, and he had to be a free man, not a slave. Listen! “Your citizenship is in heaven”, Philippians 3:20 and “It is for freedom Christ has set us free”. Galatians 5:1

But here are the verses I want to call your attention to: “But ONE THING I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13,14

One expositor translated part of verse 14 “down to the goal I press!” Are you pressing toward the goal? The football playoffs in High School football are going on right now and there have been many pictures of running backs pressing toward the goal! They’re not looking to the right or the left, they have their eyes on the goal!

Friends, we are not pressing toward a mere earthly goal, we are heading for HOME! A brother once said, “it’s not quitting time yet!” We are heading toward the PRIZE of the UPWARD CALL of God in Christ Jesus! Are you on the sidelines watching or are you pressing toward the goal? All of the joy is in being part of the struggle. Press on! Don’t give up! “Always abounding in the work of The Lord, knowing that in The Lord your labor is not in vain” 1st Corinthians 15:58

Jesus is watching. Nothing you do for Him is in vain. And He has rewards with Him, of which the biggest I believe will be His smile and His word, “well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord”. Press on!

Terry