This is our training time. Here we are able to suffer for Christ and with Him. When He comes this privilege of suffering for His sake will be passed. We are to live what we teach the same as Paul did. The enemies of the cross don’t mind religion, religious things, religious songs or even … Read more
When our focus is on Christ as Paul’s was, we can be an example to others as he was. He obeyed heaven’s laws and knew heaven’s language. He was loyal to heaven’s cause and he knew his record was in heaven. It was heaven’s Lord who was his Lord, and he was looking for Him … Read more
Mature believers are not deceived into seeking sinless perfection but rather moral maturity. Sinless perfection is in our future, not at present. Moral maturity is for the present and demands that we discipline ourselves. Maturity in Christ involves us acting on what we know as the Holy Spirit guides us. We do not have to … Read more
We need to direct our energy into things that count for eternity and God’s glory. We need to exercise ourselves “unto godliness” lest the excess baggage of earthly things hinder our progress. We need to persevere in our journey toward the goal in spite of difficulties, setbacks or even stumbling or falling. If that happens, … Read more
Paul had one aim before him. He wanted to be the man God wanted him to be in order to attain that supreme prize of a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What greater aim is there than that for one who loves the Lord. His one ambition was that in this race he would … Read more
There is an underlying sense of dissatisfaction with his past as he presses ahead like a runner striving to reach the goal. Paul’s goal was to know Christ intimately, to be like Christ personally, to be all that Christ wanted him to be practically. He had a single mind toward this goal. As far as … Read more
In the first verses of this chapter Paul looks at himself as an accountant summing up his life as a believer with the words, “I count.” Then in verse 12 through 16 he speaks as an athlete in a race and says, “I press” – as one who is running for the goal. In the … Read more