Neville Turley

I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 3:14 NIV

Thanks to the privileges of his birth and upbringing, Paul was an early achiever. 

Paul, because he was born in Tarsus, was entitled to all the benefits and protection the Roman Empire offered its citizens. 

As a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin and a Pharisee, his standing and credentials were impeccable.  Paul’s zealousness in the persecution of Christian believers and his righteousness based on the law, assured him of a glittering future. 

Then on the road to Damascus, he had a one on one meeting with the risen Lord Jesus.  It turned his life upside down. 

After meeting our Lord Jesus Christ, all Paul’s past privileges and achievements paled into insignificance.  ‘Rubbish’ was the strong term he used to describe their worth in comparison to what God had given him in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:5-6)

Paul’s loyalty and commitment to our Lord and Saviour was total. We should be inspired by his example. Our conversion may not have been as dramatic as Paul’s was but somewhere along life’s way, we met the resurrected Jesus and responded.

It sometimes happens that our spiritual life loses its sparkle.  We become jaded.  To the delight of the devil, we neglect to talk to the Lord in prayer or to read his word and we skip worship services without valid reasons.

That is when we need to get back on track.

It’s not a matter of getting our priorities right but getting our priority right – the Lord Jesus Christ.  He must always rank number one, the foundation on which your faith is grounded and on which your life is built around.

Prayer: Almighty God, in your Son you have shown us the fullness of your love, help us to walk in his light and dwell in his love that we may know the fullness of his joy and glorify you forever.  Amen