THIS ONE THING or
THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE MINDSET

" . . . Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus . . ." (Philippians 3:7-16)

Devotion 10 of 13

PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Pressing "toward" is a picture of continual progress. There is no point in the life of faith where effort may be suspended, and progress stopped. In spite of this detail, there are myriad of professed believers who have made no noticeable progress in the faith for decades. Many souls, once noted for their fervor, have long since cooled in their efforts to reach the goal. Such are a contradiction of what it means to be in Christ Jesus, and we must overcome them in order to obtain the prize ourselves.

Paul once explained how he kept his body under control, lest he become disqualified in the quest for glory (1 Cor 9:27). Some, who are unlearned in Kingdom matters, have concocted doctrines that affirm men, after coming into Christ, cannot be disqualified, or excluded from the prize. They speak as though the prize was already attained, perfection already reached, and they had "apprehended." None of those suppositions, however, are true.

THE GOAL. The "goal," or "mark," is the hope of our calling--the objective for which Christ laid hold on us. It involves a reign with Jesus, the government of the world to come, and being "ever with the Lord." It consists of getting safely out of this world, and into the one to come. The "goal" will be reached when we obtain that for which faith has caused us to long.

THE PRIZE. Faith sees God as "a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6). The "prize" is the reward God gives. It is to be earnestly sought by every believer. As it is written, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Cor 9:24). Believers are not simply to live for today, or attempt to just make it through the day. They have been called that they might "inherit a blessing" (1 Pet 3:9). In Christ, you are begotten "again . . . to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pet 1:4). That is to be seen as a prize to be grasped at all cost. All of salvation is calculated to enable you to obtain it. T

THE UPWARD CALL. The KJV reads, "the high calling." The idea is that the goal continually moves forward as we strain toward it, yet it is never out of sight. Faith makes us acutely aware of the present gulf between us and the prize. The "upward," or "high" calling is a summons to "come up higher," closer to the prize and further from the world. At no point does the call allow us to settle down in this world--it is upward! There is no place in the life of faith for gathering incentives from the world. We are regularly subjected to a "high calling," and are not to refuse Him who is speaking from heaven (Heb 12:25).

There is no place for slackening our pace in the race to glory, or removing our eyes from the goal. Everything about salvation is calculated to move us toward the goal. Forgetting the things behind us, straining forward to the things ahead of us, and pressing toward the mark, are all requisites for the believer. Where these characteristics are not found, serious spiritual deficiency exists. Where they are found, genuine and pleasing progress is being made. May you be found among those who are stretching toward the mark set before you!

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus Christ for a prize worthy of all of my effort. Strengthen me to press toward the mark!

-- Tomorrow: RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH --