Press On

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus"- Philippians 3:14 (NIV).

Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt? You look for clues, follow maps, you reason, you weigh decisions, sometimes having to use multiple resources, making mistakes, doubling back; but, knowing there is a prize if you endure, if you press on. Your confidence level goes up and down; sometimes you run and other times you stand to ponder meaning; the prize could be found with the next clue or the hunt could continue. We desire the prize of being with the Lord Jesus in His heavenly kingdom. We haven't taken hold of that prize yet, but like the Apostle Paul, we should be "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" (v. 13). The course is laid out before us. Jesus created it (Colossians 1:16). The prize is indescribable! Press on!   

Lukewarm

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!"- Revelation 3:15 (NIV).

Watching for fruits of the Spirit is one of our best measures of a person's spiritual temperature. But how about those who are spiritually lukewarm? We are the salt of the earth, but if we lose that fervor, weaken our testimony, we aren't good for anything (Matthew 5:13). We have been transformed from the grain of sand on the beach to a life-preserving salt crystal that gives meaning to existence to a watching world. We are distinctively and decisively different; set apart; a pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved...and those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15). Lukewarm is descriptive of a Christian trying to place one foot in Heaven, while keeping one foot planted in the world. "My brothers and sister, this should not be" (James 3:10-12).  

Be Ready

"You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober"- 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (NIV).

Your boss is going out of town and leaving you to house-sit until he returns. His house is beautiful, filled with everything you need and he has servants. All you need to do is watch over his property and see to his business interests. It's easy to slip into the role of all this belonging to you. You're tempted to relax, throw a party and live like this will remain in your keeping for a long time...but you don't know when he will return. In what condition do you want him to find you, and his interests, when he returns? This analogy concerns the return of Christ. His return will be like a thief in the night (2 Peter 3:10); the sounding trumpet will jolt you out of your lethargy; His return a flash, within the blink of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). In what condition do you want to be found? Every second, of every day, be ready.

Amazing Things

"Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you"- Joshua 3:5 (NIV).

The priests were to move out first, with the heavy ark, ahead of the people; the Israelites were going to cross the Jordan River at the worst time...flood stage (v15). The people followed; they had no idea where they were going (v4). God instructed them; first consecrate yourselves; separate yourselves from anything unclean, anything that would not be harmonious within your relationship with a perfect Heavenly Father. This miraculous crossing wasn't for the world to witness. This miraculous crossing was the Lord doing amazing things "among" His children. This is perfect! This is sound! Is what lies before us heavy, burdensome, impossible? Are we unsure where it will end, the outcome? Brothers and Sisters, let us consecrate ourselves; remove the unclean to make room for a more intimate relationship with the Father. God will do amazing things among us! What was truth then is truth now!  

Intentional Training

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training...Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly...No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize"- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV).

You are a runner! The analogy of training, running and finishing the race represents our need for self-discipline in our calling. It determines the outcome...because we all, sooner or later, cross that proverbial finish line. Intentional training is required. I ran a three mile race when I was 24 years old. My training was, shall I say, undisciplined. The most I ran at one time was one mile before the day of the race. My thought was, if I could run one mile I could run three. I struggled after the first mile, stopping to walk some of the way, but oh the joy I felt when I saw that finish line. My speed picked up and I crossed over. I won no prize that day. What I do remember of that race was the exhilarating rush upon seeing the finish line before me and...the realization that I hadn't run the race I had hoped to run. I'm now training to run a 5K. I may not win that race's prize, "But one thing I do...straining toward what is ahead...the goal to win the prize for which God has called me" (Philippians 3:13-14). Intentional training is required; Jesus is on the other side of that finish line.