Reflecting the Image

Scripture:

Philippians 3:13–14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (NRSVUE)

Observation:

The Apostle Paul is writing from prison, and yet he’s still thinking and praying about what lies ahead. He’s been serving the Lord for many years now, but he realizes that there is still always more. He could certainly spend his time thinking about what has happened in the past, but he doesn’t. I’m sure he’s grateful for all that he’s learned and gone through, but he isn’t finished getting to know Christ.

Just before these verses, Paul says that he presses on because “Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Christ has already laid hold of Paul, and now Paul is pressing on to lay hold of all that Christ has for him.

I love the imagery of Paul “straining”—pushing forward with all his might in the direction of Jesus Christ. The goal remains before him. There is always more of Christ to know and more transformation into His likeness. The heavenly call of God continues to draw Paul forward, challenging him to “press on.”

Application:

There is a spiritual synergy that happens when God and humanity come together in the spiritual journey. God’s grace always goes before us, wooing us, drawing us, and enabling our participation in His divine purposes. When we step into the waters of our baptism, we are just beginning a journey in which we continually strain forward to what lies ahead. God is already ahead of us, drawing us into His future and inviting us to participate in what He is already doing.

I’ve just enjoyed a beautiful morning of worship in Manchester, England. I love attending the Longsight Church of the Nazarene, where they always make me feel at home. My grandchildren love going to church because the entire community of believers welcomes them in, and I know they feel deeply loved in that space. Today the worship music was beautiful, and you could sense the presence of the Lord.

While I loved being there today, there is also a danger in thinking that is enough. I’ve been to church this week, and I can tick that off my list. I’m being a good follower of Jesus Christ because I’ve done my thing.

But that’s not enough.

I must, together with Paul, press on. I’ve already laid hold of a number of things in my spiritual life, but there is more, and there will always be more. The invitation is not just to get our feet wet in the waters of baptism, but to press on. God is calling us into deeper waters through Jesus Christ. Will we respond, or are we satisfied with where we are?

Many, many years ago, I was playing on the church softball team, and Chuck, who was just my boyfriend at the time, was the coach. I’m not a very good softball player, but one time when I was up to bat, I hit the ball pretty well. It made it past the infield and rolled into the outfield, and no one was out there to get it.

I ran to first base, then to second, and finally I was so excited that I made it all the way to third base. Chuck was there—the third-base coach—and he was waving me on and telling me to go home.

I didn’t.

I stopped at third base, quite proud of myself.

He asked me why I was stopping, and the reality was that I hadn’t been paying attention to my coach. I thought making it to third base was good enough. I was satisfied with how far I had come, but I hadn’t been listening to the one who was ahead of me, calling me home.

I didn’t press on.

Sometimes I wonder if we do the same thing spiritually. We look at how far we’ve come and become satisfied. We may even be legitimately grateful for what God has already done in our lives. But gratitude for where we’ve been must never keep us from hearing the voice that is still calling us forward.

Don’t be satisfied with where you are spiritually. There is always more as we participate in the life of the Triune God. God’s grace goes before us, drawing us toward His future. Our response is to listen to His voice and participate faithfully as He calls us onward.

The Coach is still waving us home.

Press on!

Prayer:

Lord, satisfaction with what I’ve already experienced or accomplished can still get in my way. Thank You for the grace that has brought me this far and for the grace that continues to go before me. Help me to keep straining in the direction of Your voice, following Your instructions, and participating with You as You draw me ever deeper into Your life. Amen.