One Thing

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Philippians 3:13,14
“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

There is a lot in this chapter. What I'm doing in this study is looking at these 2 verses. One Thing.

Don't rest on what you have done in the past. Don't think you have arrived. Life happens each day. If you are not growing and learning you are not living.

Just as a tree needs to grow to live. So we need to be growing to be living in the Spirit of God. Why? It is the relationship that produces growth. A relationship with Christ. And in this relationship we hear from Christ and learn. If we stop hearing and learning and doing what we learn we become stagnate. This stagnancy brings death.

It is this doing and not just learning that got me into ministry to the homeless, street witnessing, people at a nursing home and teaching in a church. All of these were growth areas that brought me closer to Christ. I had to pray and search the Bible for answers. This seeking of the Lord brought growth.

It is the same in our physical life as well. When we stop exercising and working our body starts to decay. Muscles lose their tone and become weaker. Our heart is a muscle and it needs to be exercised to stay healthy.

Why would we work when we don't have to? Our spiritual and physical life tends to decay without use. And if we stay active we maintain our strength and increase in strength. Moses was able to climb a mountain at 120. He was always active. Caleb asked Joshua for Hebron. He was 85 when he asked for this and was still able to fight in war at that age.

To reach forward to what lies ahead comes from anticipation of what God is leading us in. We need to keep an attitude of looking to God for His strength and help. And as we are looking to Him we gain insight from His word to our spirits which strengthens us for the work ahead. Without this urgency of seeking God we fall back. In a sense it is back sliding. Because we are not doing what we used to be doing.

I press on toward the goal. What is our goal? Have a goal and if you don't have one seek God for His direction.

I will use the armor of God Ephesians 6:10-18 to fight off distractions from the one thing I am called to. I will use the threshing sledge Isaiah 41:15 break down the mountains of opposition.

One thing desired Ps 27:4 To be in God's presence all day long. Seek Him more and more.

One thing happens to all. All will die. Eccl 3:19 Make your life count for God.

One thing lacking. Mark 10:21 Sell all you have and give to the poor. Get rid of what keeps you from living the life God gives.

One thing needed. Luke 10:42 And that is to sit at Jesus feet and learn from Him.

One thing is known. John 9:25 The blind man knew that he was once blind but now he sees. Like the blind man, I will give testimony of God giving me spiritual sight.

One thing to do. Phil 3:13 Press on to know the Lord.

One fact. 2 Peter 3:8 Don't forget that with the Lord time is not a factor. V9 God is holding back, so more will be brought into the kingdom.

1 Corinthians 9:23-27
Forget the ground you have covered in the race and press on.
Use all your energy to win. Don't waste it on non essentials.
Run with the end result in mind. And what is that? To give glory to God in all you do.