I Press On

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Philippians 3; Psalm 113

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. (Philippians 3:12–14 NLT)

Sometimes it seems as if we’ve developed an entirely transactional idea about becoming a Christian—kind of like buying a Life Insurance policy. You raise your hand, pray the prayer, get baptized, join the church, pay the premiums, wait a lifetime, then slide into heaven!

It sure seems as if God’s idea about the Christian life is much more a transformational process that begins with a “transaction” and then continues as a growing relationship! Just as a wedding ceremony begins a transformational process of two people becoming one, our life of faith is a transformational process of becoming progressively, incrementally, sometimes painfully, more like Jesus! God wants a growing relationship with us! Jesus gave us his Word and his Spirit so that we can become more and more like him now!

The wedding is an event, the marriage is a journey! Making a commitment to Christ can be an event, but the Christian life is a transformational journey! Like Paul, we press on to possess that for which Christ possessed us!

You’ve noticed the “How’s My Driving?” signs on the back of commercial trucks? Here’s a “How’s My Pressing On?” check for you! Call 1-800-Galatians 5:22!

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  (Galatians 5:22–23 NLT)

Prayer:

Father, Please help my friends and me to keep pressing on! Sometimes it’s tempting to just put life on religious autopilot and cruise. Help us to be irrevocably committed to the transformational relationship into which you’ve called us! For your Kingdom’s sake! Amen!