Saturday December 16th, 2023
« I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself »
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death,
11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
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.
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
In today’s Bible reading, Apostle Paul’s example stands as a shining light on the importance of the role that our mind-set plays in determining whether we succeed or fail in life.
His persistence and tenacity contributed to his success, coupled with a mind-set that was content but not complacent.
Till he went home to be with the Lord, he was ever desirous of attaining new heights in God, regardless of his prior achievements.
Like Paul, we should realize that it is not over until it is truly over.
Many of us seem to be celebrating the victory we are yet to win, relaxing as if we have arrived.
Beloved, I am using this medium to tell you that believers in Christ are continuous “work-in-progress” in the hands of the Almighty.
Therefore, run the Christian race with the mindset that is never complacent, always remembering the words of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 10:12CEV, saying:
« Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall »
Beware of the spirit of pride and all the subtle ways it manifests itself.
If given room to operate, pride will stop you from seeing yourself as a work-in-progress that needs to be examined and re-examined from time to time before the day of delivery and commissioning.
Let Jesus remain your Master-builder and allow Him work on you until you see him in glory.
If we look at our Christian race in the light of sporting activities and apply the lessons learnt to our lives, it will give us a fair understanding of how well we are faring in our journey.
We should not be athletes who are satisfied to just participate and enjoy the support and encouragement of spectators.
Our ultimate goal should be to make heaven and receive the crown of righteousness,
and so we must be prepared to undergo vigorous training in the word of God and persevere through the process of sanctification.
Like the eagle, we should focus on our flight to heaven and ignore the multitude around us.
Our minds must be fixed on the crown of righteousness and the glory that awaits the saints in heaven.
So that we can go through our course in this world with joy.
Let us submit ourselves to the discipline, control and regimented lifestyle required of us from time to time by our divinely appointed Coach, who is the Holy Spirit, and strive to live by the mind-set enunciated in Philippians 3:13-14CSB, which says:
« 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus »
God bless you as you do so. Amen.
Prayer focus – Father, help me to always be focused on the ultimate goal of making it to heaven, in Jesus’ Name.
Author – Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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