“I press on toward the goal to win the (heavenly) prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature (pursuing spiritual perfection) should have this attitude. And if in any respect you have a different attitude, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us stay true to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:14-16, Amplified Bible)
Focused on the Right Thing
If you have a tender heart, molded and shaped by God, the display of brutality and injustice toward any individual is akin to being hit in a sensitive spot with a loaded boxing glove. The ensuing pain is present because love looks beyond the external representation of race, sex, national origin, dialect or any other distinguishing factor that can be used to separate people.
Love shows up ready to embrace people in their place of need or hurt and pushes forward to protect the helpless (children, the elderly, the infirm) and speak truth in valleys that are bereft of integrity.
In Philippians 3, Paul is pointing to himself as a work in progress. He expressed that he had triumphed over spiritual difficulties, but he was far from perfect. His answer to achieving fullness that God had for him was to keep moving forward so that the work of the Holy Spirit could be perfected in him. Though the work of Jesus Christ was perfect for Paul and us, Paul knew the perfecting work going on inside was a lifetime pursuit.
One author said Paul had no other choice but to press on. However, there is always a choice. We can choose to not follow Christ, or we can choose to follow Christ even when it is uncomfortable. Paul chose the good part. He wrote that God had grabbed him and made him a new man. Now, he stated his intentions to not let go of the inspired work of testimony and evangelizing. Paul intimated that he had work to do.
Upon reading the lesson text, we, too, can vocalize that we have work to do. We can testify to the manifestation of Jesus delivering us from the verge of destruction and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then, we can look around at the despair in our communities, families and country and declare that my hands are available and I must do the work of Christ. The work may be collecting canned goods for the local food pantry, visiting the local nursing home, doing intercessory prayer, and the list goes on. All work for God is divine.
Paul was determined not to live in the past. His past brought pain to the believers. He could not go back to rectify the past mistakes. So, he decided to press on. His future was unknown. So, he decided to press on. Our currency is now, and our focus scripture tells us to keep moving at the urging of God.
We cannot afford to take our focus off Jesus Christ. This world has so many distractions that imitate the voice and movement of Christ. There are two scriptures that will help us for God and not the deceiver: 1 John 4:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 13:3.
1 John is a cautionary word to examine what is being said through the lens of the Holy Spirit. Next, 1 Corinthians 13:3 is a reminder that Jesus Christ ushered in a commandment to love. Does the action look like godly love? 1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV – “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
Press on, members of the household of faith, toward the high calling in Christ Jesus.
St. James AME Church is located at 360 Dorothy St. in Charleston and worship service is held on the first and third Sunday of each month at 11 a.m. You may also join us on Zoom at pastorv.com.
