Just One Step
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Often this verse is splashed across an “inspirational” poster depicting a group of runners at sunset or a guy clearing a track hurdle or someone lifting weights with sweat dripping from his face. And I think it’s great if all that athletic imagery pumps someone up to keep going strong down the path God has called them to follow.
For me, though, thoughts of strapping on running shoes or putting another 20 on the bar or working even harder at the Christian life are actually kind of discouraging. When I’m feeling like I’ve failed again to live as I should as a Jesus-follower, I don’t really want to hear a “dust your self off and get back out there” tune.
Two things in this passage DO help me in times of discouragement about my own missteps on the path of Christ. First, Paul admitted that even he has not yet become the perfect runner. Even he -- an apostle called by the audible voice of Jesus to take on the dangerous mission of bringing the Good News to the world and inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Scripture -- even he saw the gaps between what he was called to be and what he was.
If Paul, at this late stage in his life, was still imperfect, it makes sense that I would still make faithless choices myself sometimes. Not having yet finished the race doesn’t mean you’re a lousy runner, just that there are more steps yet to take.
The other encouraging thing Paul says is that it’s not all about his performance. It’s not a matter of his gritting his teeth and just. trying. harder. until he gets there. Notice he said he had not yet been “made perfect.” That implies that someone else is involved in moving him along the path. And, of course, God is the one who is making us into the image of Jesus. He’s doing the real work, right? He’s the source of our power to keep going.
Paul goes on to say that Jesus has already taken hold of him. Whoa, that’s a big deal. It’s not a matter of “will I ever get there?” Jesus already has me. I will finish this race. I will get there, because it’s not up to me. It’s His power, and it’s his plan. My life is already "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3), so crossing the finish line is inevitable.
So what’s left for me to do, then? Take the next step. Sometimes, that takes a lot of “pressing on” and a lot of “straining” toward the goal. But my whole job in the scheme of things is just to take the next step in the power of God on God’s path to reach the prize of crossing a finish line He’s already assured me I will cross.
One step. That’s motivating to me. The poster might be a little less heroic but, after all, I’m not the hero. I’m just following Him.
--Philippians 3:12-14
Often this verse is splashed across an “inspirational” poster depicting a group of runners at sunset or a guy clearing a track hurdle or someone lifting weights with sweat dripping from his face. And I think it’s great if all that athletic imagery pumps someone up to keep going strong down the path God has called them to follow.
For me, though, thoughts of strapping on running shoes or putting another 20 on the bar or working even harder at the Christian life are actually kind of discouraging. When I’m feeling like I’ve failed again to live as I should as a Jesus-follower, I don’t really want to hear a “dust your self off and get back out there” tune.
Two things in this passage DO help me in times of discouragement about my own missteps on the path of Christ. First, Paul admitted that even he has not yet become the perfect runner. Even he -- an apostle called by the audible voice of Jesus to take on the dangerous mission of bringing the Good News to the world and inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Scripture -- even he saw the gaps between what he was called to be and what he was.
If Paul, at this late stage in his life, was still imperfect, it makes sense that I would still make faithless choices myself sometimes. Not having yet finished the race doesn’t mean you’re a lousy runner, just that there are more steps yet to take.
The other encouraging thing Paul says is that it’s not all about his performance. It’s not a matter of his gritting his teeth and just. trying. harder. until he gets there. Notice he said he had not yet been “made perfect.” That implies that someone else is involved in moving him along the path. And, of course, God is the one who is making us into the image of Jesus. He’s doing the real work, right? He’s the source of our power to keep going.
Paul goes on to say that Jesus has already taken hold of him. Whoa, that’s a big deal. It’s not a matter of “will I ever get there?” Jesus already has me. I will finish this race. I will get there, because it’s not up to me. It’s His power, and it’s his plan. My life is already "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3), so crossing the finish line is inevitable.
So what’s left for me to do, then? Take the next step. Sometimes, that takes a lot of “pressing on” and a lot of “straining” toward the goal. But my whole job in the scheme of things is just to take the next step in the power of God on God’s path to reach the prize of crossing a finish line He’s already assured me I will cross.
One step. That’s motivating to me. The poster might be a little less heroic but, after all, I’m not the hero. I’m just following Him.
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