Pressing towards the mark Phillippians 3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 3:14

We all have goals that we try to achieve and there's no better time for new goals than the beginning of a new year. I usually have a long list of things I want to do like "read more books, eat right, exercise more etc. etc." At the end of the year, I like to look back and see what I was able to accomplish fully, in part or not at all. The ones that I didn't accomplish are usually added to the other years list or I just take it off.

What if there was a goal that had to roll over with every new year? A goal that you had to keep striving towards until achieving perfection? What if this very goal was perfection in itself? Do you think it would be attainable? Do you think you would be able to achieve it in a year's time or would it take you longer?

Jesus said we ought to strive for perfection so that
we may resemble our heavenly Father. Therefore if Jesus said we are able to become perfect, I believe that we have that ability. The topic of how Jesus wants us to be perfect like our heavenly father is discussed in this post.

In writing to the Phillipians, Paul reminds us of how he presses forward to reach this goal of perfection/holiness which is the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. In the previous verse, verse 13, he states that a crucial part of  moving forward with his life and also attaining that goal was to forget those things which are behind. This is also discussed in depth in this post.

Paul states that there is a prize attached to reaching the mark or goal. What could this prize possibly be? Could it be spending eternity with God in heaven? Isn't that what all Christians want? What is going to set you apart from everyone who is "running the race" or pressing toward the mark? The difference is that some will reach that goal and others will not. Paul states in 1Corinthians 9:24 "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." Indeed we must run (do what God has called us to do) in such a way (the righteous / the holy way) so that we will win the prize (eternity in heaven with Jesus reaping all the benefits of our work here on earth).

Be encouraged brothers and sisters. I don't believe that God has called us to do anything that is too hard for us to do. He knows we can do it because he knows our true potential even when we doubt ourselves. Don't give up, let's continue to run this race. God bless you!

Brighten up a friend's day today with these words of encouragement. Share the word of God with them.