20 Dec January 4th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

THE GOAL IS STILL IN FRONT OF YOU – Part I

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Many, many years ago I did a really stupid thing.  I let my track coach talk me into running the two-mile race.  You have to understand, the only event I participated in was high jumping.  I had not trained to run any kind of race, let alone one that was two miles.  True, I was young, but that was about all I had going for me.

The gun discharged!  The race was on.  We were running on a quarter mile track, so there were only eight laps left to run when the gun sounded.  The first lap was a breeze.  In fact, I took the lead.  As each lap was completed my lead grew.  At the end of one mile, I was two hundred twenty yards ahead of the entire field of runners.  I held that lead through two more laps.  THEN, reality set in.  The rest of the runners, skilled in running a distance race began to increase their pace.  While they were increasing, my body was rebelling.  My pace slowed down and continued to do so.  When I came to the last four hundred and forty yards, I wasn’t sure I would be able to finish the race.  Winning at that point was out of the question.

God’s word today speaks of a goal, something like the finish line in a race.  It reminds you that you are heading toward a goal, which in this case is eternal life.  You, however, are not there yet.  The next phrase says in light of the fact there is still a finishing point still to be reached, it is important to “press on.”

The key to understanding what is that finishing point, the remaining words of this verse explain, “take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”  Of course, the finishing point, the end line, the finish line is your eternal life.  That is why Jesus took hold of you.  Jesus says to you as you “press on,” “I have come that (you) may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

1 Timothy 6:12 encourages you with these words, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”  Jesus took hold of you at your baptism, holds on to you tightly now, and will continue to do so because He desires that you will be saved. (See Romans 10:9-10)

Prayer:  Jesus, be with me to lead me to the finish line.  In Your holy name.  Amen.

Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life’s tempestuous sea;

Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal.

Chart and compass come from Thee.  Jesus Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child.  Thou canst hush the ocean wild;

Boist’rous waves obey Thy will When Thou sayst to them,. “Be still”

Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore And the fearful breakers roar

Twixt me and the peaceful rest, Then, while leaning on Thy breast

May I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

(715)