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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
May I begin with a few questions for all of us today. . .
What are you pursuing in life?
When you achieve it or acquire it or become it… will you be satisfied?
What delight will it bring you and why?
We are reading together a letter written by a very unusual man, the Apostle Paul. He wrote from his ‘house arrest’ in Rome, (Acts 28:30,31) to his Christian friends in Philippi: “…I press on, to take hold of that, for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Phil. 3:12) What an interesting statement!
As I consider Paul’s life, it seems to me this was an intensely passionate man, perhaps even ‘driven’. (Phil. 3:4-6; Gal. 1:13-24) In his young age, he pursued his Rabbinical studies with determination. As a passionate young Pharisee Paul/Saul excelled and his zeal propelled him to leadership. As a persecutor of Christians, he was tireless and ruthless. As a follower of Jesus his passion to know Jesus and make Him known, across the Roman Empire, had no limits. So what would you conclude Paul was ‘pressing on to take hold of’, now, as an older man in prison?
Perhaps the bigger question for Paul, and you and me, is this: what is “…that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”? Let’s ponder that!? What was the motivation for Jesus Christ to go through all He did, so you and I could be ransomed from our sin and become ‘new creations in Christ’, even “ambassadors of Christ through whom God is making His appeal”? (2 Corinthians 5:17,20)
Do you remember this statement from Hebrews 12:2 “…Who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning it shame…” What was the joy that caused Jesus to endure the cross? Have you considered those verses in which Jesus explained WHY He came?
Listen:
Matt. 9:12 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners.”
Mark 10:45 “…even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 19:10 “…the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly.”
Matt. 16:18 “…on this rock (the Gospel truth) I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not prevail.”
And here’s one from the Old Testament, Ezekiel 36:23 “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,’ declares the Sovereign LORD, ‘when I show Myself HOLY through you before their eyes.”
Now would you agree all these verses pertain to all of us. Jesus died, so any and all human beings could repent of their sin and be saved from sin condemnation, right? Jesus died and rose again so He could build and reign over His church world wide, and bring to heaven, all who die having trusted Jesus for their salvation. God the Father’s desire is that His holiness, His majesty be seen in the people that Jesus has ransomed and God has adopted as His people. And do you see Jesus’ desire is that we live spiritually abundant lives, quite the opposite from the enslaved lives the devil wants for us.
But for Paul there was even more, my friends. When Jesus had confronted Paul on the road to Damascus and blinded him, Paul had three days to ponder what he was doing with his life, and Jesus gave him a new life purpose. Do you remember… Jesus had said “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” (Acts 9:15,16).
It seems clear to me Paul understood both parts of this commission. He would proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in words and in writing all across the Roman Empire, even all the way to the Caesar in Rome… and… he would suffer, greatly, frequently, the harsh rejection of both Jews and Gentiles, and the horrific brutality of sinful mankind in their rejection of Jesus and those who bring His Gospel.
The same is happening all around the world today. Remember Jesus had predicted this: “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. This is why the world hates you… If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also…” (John 15:18-20)
Ok so let’s look again at Philippians 3:12-14. Paul writes: “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.” Then Paul continues: “…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.” WOW!!
Do you see Paul’s passionate pursuit? May I state it this way:
1. Paul was determined to BECOME all that God designed for him to be and Jesus died for him to be! AND,
2. Paul was relentless in his pursuit to ACCOMPLISH all that Jesus commissioned and empowered him to accomplish! AND,
3. Paul was passionate “to win the prize for which God had called him ‘heavenward’ in Christ Jesus.” Paul was fully confident, his life journey would end in heaven with Jesus. He was also confident there was a God awarded prize awaiting him there! AND,
4. Paul was willing to suffer anything from anyone as long as he was able to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people who were lost in their sin and bound for hell!
Now, what do you think about that my friends?
In a few days, we’ll be reading together Paul’s final letter which he wrote to Timothy, and what may be some of the last words he ever dictated are found in 2 Timothy 4:7,8 “…the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…” Do you hear Paul’s confidence of what is awaiting him in heaven? Do you hear his sense of fulfillment, contentment, accomplishment, as he reflects on the journey he has walked, the pain he has suffered, since the day he trusted Jesus and accepted the commission Jesus gave him to take the Gospel to the world?
Now my dear friends, let’s go back and one last time, look at Philippians 3:12-14, and this time I invite us all to own it, personalize it: “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… 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.”
Are you pressing on, everyday, to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus saved you and took hold of you? What is that in your life my friends?
WHY did Jesus save you from your sin?
WHAT would Jesus like to accomplish in our world THROUGH your life?
HOW is the Holy Spirit developing you, refining you more and more every day, to become all God has designed you to BE, as His son or daughter?
WHAT is the prize awaiting you in heaven, that God Himself has prepared for you?
WHAT will you see, when you come near the end of your life and you look back in reflection on your life journey?
WHAT words will you use to summarize your life journey, as Paul did?
I think it’s time to worship and have a conversation with Jesus. I think Jesus would like to answer all these questions uniquely in your life my friends. Talk with Him, invite Him to speak to you through His Holy Spirit and His Word. Consider Psalm 16 & 139 as two of many Scriptures to help you consider your life pursuit.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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