Running The Race

Athletes, if they are going to be successful, must train their bodies and practice their skills. Good athletes never just show up for the game or contest. They spend more time in preparation than in the game itself.

In Philippians 3:12-16 Paul uses the analogy of an athlete to share how we compete as a follower of Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-13a

Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

Paul expresses his dissatisfaction.

He was not satisfied with his Christian life. A sanctified dissatisfaction is an essential to growing in our relationship with Jesus.

Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare themselves with other Christians, usually with those who are not making much progress in their walk with Jesus.

Paul compared himself with himself and with Jesus. He was thus seeking the reality of his Christian life.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is seeing ourselves as we are, not compared to others.

Philippians 3:13b

But one thing I do.

Paul expresses his devotion.

One Thing:

One thing is needed. – Luke 10:42

One thing I know. – John 9:25

One thing I desired of the Lord. – Psalm 27:4

Too many Christians are involved in many things. The secret to progress in our relationship to Jesus is to concentrate on one thing.

The believer must devote himself to running the Christian race. No athlete succeeds by doing everything; he succeeds by specializing.

Our specialty is doing Jesus’ will.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is focusing on Jesus and what He desires in our lives.

Philippians 3:13c

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Paul expresses his direction.

The person without Jesus is controlled by the past, but the Christian running the race looks toward the future. The believer needs to be future-oriented.

Paul says he does two things:

Forgetting what is behind – to no longer to be influenced by or affected by what is in the past

Straining toward what is ahead – reaching forward

The things which are behind must be set aside and the things which are before must take their place.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in the now and looking toward the future.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul expresses his determination.

Paul says he presses. Paul is following after something. It is a term that expresses the idea of an intense endeavor. It was a term used to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey.

There are two extremes to avoid:

I must do it all.

God must do it all.

The follower of Jesus has to realize that God must work in us if we are going to run the race successfully.

The prize that we are pressing toward is not:

Heaven

Salvation

Forgiveness

The prize and the goal are the same - Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing the presence, love, and power of Jesus daily.

Philippians 3:15-16

All of us 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. 

Paul expresses his discipline.

It is not enough to run hard.

It is not enough to be the fastest.

You have to run the race obeying the rules.

Jesus sets the way we are to run the race.

Jesus sets the course our race will take.

If we try living our lives based on our rules, our desires, or on a direction we set, we will not obtain the prize.

We have to live in obedience to Jesus and His will.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is following the desires that Jesus has for your life.

I am with Paul in that I have not already obtained all that God wants for me.

I am with Paul in that I will forget what is in the past.

I am with Paul in that I will live in the now and focus on the future.

I pray that you will allow God to continue to make you into the image of Jesus.

Living Today and Looking to Tomorrow

Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                                 Joe