What’s going on everyone!! So, recently, I have been absolutely wrecked by Philippians 3:14. It says that, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Another version, the Aramaic Bible in Plain English, says it like this, “And I run toward the goal to take the victory of the calling of God from on high in Yeshua The Messiah.” This piece of Scripture has so much power to it. It’s goal is to remind us that life on this world is not something that we can just breeze by; that our walk with Christ is not just a ‘get out of real life free’ card. Jesus knows fully what it means to be a human in this world, but we have a hope that goes so much higher than just success in this world.
Let’s be honest… We all wish that we could be exempt from the troubles and sins that have negatively impacted our lives. While in this world, we are not capable of simply bypassing sin and the worldly factors that influence us. Although this is a heavy truth, we as Believers have a foundation of hope that even though we will experience trouble and sin, we have a higher calling. Though we go through heartbreaks, past sins, and though we outright make God less powerful when He really is, He is gracious enough to forgive us, and to call us on even higher than the guilt and shame we face. We press on to the calling God has on our lives, with Eternity in view of that.
John 16:33 is a wonderful Scripture that perfectly relates to this aspect of pressing on. It says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This is so strong because Jesus tells us that we will go through hard times and that we will struggle in this world, BUT we can be encouraged because He is our foundation of hope and strength when the hardest of times come. We cannot be so caught up in our sins and in how bad we messed up, that we get our eyes off of the fact that Jesus has a calling of us to go to, and even in our pain there is a purpose that can even help free someone to receive the love and calling of Jesus as well.
Our troubles are very, very real. I am not denying that because I deal with sin and shame and guilt just like anyone else does. What I am saying, though, is that Jesus so passionately desires us to focus more so on the calling on our lives, and the love He so graciously gives every second of our lives. We press on, despite the hurdles that stand in our way. We trust Jesus to be our foundation, and our strength to jump over those hurdles and to run the race to our callings. Jesus is always available with His arms open ready to receive us. On that, let us run this race with the best that we have, and let us also keep pressing on even when it hurts and impossible to see God in the midst of the toughest situations. I want to do something different in closing and add a short prayer for us all:
Dear Jesus,
We just thank you for your word and for your love for us. I pray, Father, that we would be people who press on into your love, even when we go through the worst situations we feel we can’t overcome. Father I pray against any condemnation and shame and guilt in your people, that you would encourage and strengthen us all. I pray that we would be people of faith and people who will press on towards the calling You have for us. We thank you for your love God. In Jesus name Amen.
Much Love,
Ryan W.
