Not that I have already obtained it or have
already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which
also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as
having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and
reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of
the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14)
Paul seemed to realize that he could not do everything. He
could not reach everybody, everywhere, all the time, so he concentrated his
effort. He focused in on "one
thing." The one thing that he could do well, he would do. He maximized
his results through a concentrated effort.
- Strategy Number 4: Focus on the
future. This one thing I do... and
reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
If the enemy cannot
discourage us from our God-given assignment, he will try to overload us. Many times the enemy’s most effective weapon against servants
of God is busyness. Trying to do too
many things will rob us of our effectiveness. We must give ourselves to the one
thing we are called to do. Overloaded hands are ineffective hands.
Paul clearly understood his call, and he gave himself to one
thing, preaching the Gospel of the Lord Christ. He preached Jesus and Him
crucified. He preached to the Gentiles and in places where the gospel had not
been preached. He had one goal, one
purpose, and one desire, “that I may win Christ.”
Paul uses some very strong words in this text, “Reaching
forth” and pressing towards”. The phrase, “reaching
forward”, means straining towards the goal, leaping over
obstacles, breaking down barriers and doing whatever else is needed to
overcome.
- The literal idea is the picture
of a man climbing up a ladder, standing on the top rung, and even getting
up on the tips of his toes in order to accomplish his goal.
- The word “press”
means to act on with a steady force, to push against; to push close
together; to squeeze out, to remove wrinkles; to keep moving forward; to
keep on asking and urging.
Paul uses these strong words because he wants us to
understand what it takes to be successful in this Christian race. There is a
price to pay in pursuit of excellence. Many may not be willing to pay the
price, but this is central to a powerful strategy of success. This
is probably not for everyone. It is only for those who are willing to strain
forward, leap over obstacles, break down barriers, act with steady force, push
against and keep moving forward.
Those willing to exert concentrated effort in the pursuit of
excellence in reaching their God-given tasks will have great success. Stop and pray asking God to give you strength
to persevere and wisdom to choose what to spend your time on. Be aware of Satan’s wish for you to be
overscheduled and distracted with too many irons in the fire. Learn to say NO and to listen to God’s voice as He leads.
Scripture to Claim:
Do you not know that
those who run in a race all run, but only
one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 1 Corinthians 9:24
