Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (ESV)
by Linda Harris
The Greek word translated in some popular translations as “press on” (3:12, 14) has the implication not just of making an effort, but of suffering and persecution. Living the Christian life to attain the goal of knowing Christ is more than just making an effort to go to church and read our Bibles. Becoming like Christ will involve being pushed out of our comfort zone, just as Jesus was wrenched out of his by being crucified. Crucifying our flesh never comes easily.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
