Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Forward Momentum
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 NKJV).
The moment you become a Christian you enter a race.
The apostle Paul wrote about it in Philippians 3: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 NKJV).
We see from this verse that to win in this race of life, we must be dissatisfied with where we presently are. If we’re spiritually mature, we’ll have this mindset. A modern version of Paul’s statement puts it this way: “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me” (Philippians 3:12 MSG).
We need to be ready to gain ground, not lose ground. But to do that, we need to get rid of extra weight and things that would hinder us in this race.
A few verses earlier Paul wrote, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (verses 7–8 NKJV).
In the original language the word for “rubbish” that Paul used here actually describes excrement. Paul was saying, “Whatever I accomplished before I was a believer is rubbish. It’s garbage. It’s excrement compared to what Christ has done for me.”
We must look at things we do, as well as relationships we have and then ask ourselves these questions: Is it a wing or a weight? Does it speed me in the race of life, or does it slow me down?
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Some Christians think Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and sharing their faith are things they eventually move beyond. The truth is just the opposite. In What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know, Pastor Greg Laurie explores the foundational practices that help believers grow spiritually and stay strong in their faith. Whether you're a new believer or have followed Christ for decades, this practical guide will help you focus on the things that matter most. Request your copy this month with your gift to Harvest Ministries.
