Stephan Hoffman

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Philippians 3:12-16

Christ has made you his. You belong to him. Do you sometimes feel out of place in the world, or that you do not really belong anywhere? You can feel at home with Jesus Christ, you can find comfort in knowing that you are precious to God ‒ so precious that he sacrificed everything to save you.

When we realize this, we can say with Paul that we strive to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us. You can forget the bad things in your life, let them die away and leave them behind you. You can look forward to the new future that awaits you. Paul uses a metaphor; he says he presses on towards the goal to win the prize. He is totally focused on his calling in Christ Jesus.

We can easily go off track in life. So many things can distract you from what is really important. Maybe you get so busy with the basic struggle for survival that you lose focus. You can even become so busy with work in the church that you take your eye of Jesus Christ.

Let's cut ourselves loose of the things that hold us back or take us off course and focus our lives on our calling in Jesus Christ! Spiritual maturity is precisely that we think differently about life. We do not allow ourselves to be guided and directed by other people, ideologies, or expectations; no, we focus completely on God’s will. We set our eyes on the heavenly prize, we look beyond the challenges and problems and see God waiting for us at the finish line and we experience the encouragement of the Holy Spirit that allows us to live fully and stay on course.

Today, do you not want to make sure that your life is on track? Is it not perhaps more important that you cancel some of today’s plans and appointments and use the time to discover God's purpose for your life?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that I belong to you in Christ Jesus. Please help me to focus on your calling, purpose and will for my life. Take away the things that make me lose track. Thank you for encouraging me to live life to the fullest. I am straining toward what is ahead and striving for your will.  Amen