reaching the goal

This is just taken from what i learned from a message i heard the other night. TAken from Philippians 3:13-16:

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 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."

Okay, so Philippians was one of the letters that Paul wrote. He was encouraging the people of Philipi(sp?) to come together; form unity amongst themselves. now, what is meant by these four verses? As Christians we are called to keep up the pace; not stop till our goal is reached. But what is or should be our goal? to be more like Christ. Paul is encouraging the people to leave their accomplishments, our spiritual accomplishments, behind. To move forward, to keep "pressing toward the goal". In verse 15 he says "all of us who are mature". Paul is referring to those who are consistant with their walk with Christ or those who are continually striving.

When i was hearing all of this i started thinking. i need to get to that point. the point where i am consistantly striving to be more like Christ. what can i do...where do i start...

All of this is not only important to me on a personal level but also as im interacting with my church or other Christians. The unity that a church needs to have comes from the work of the Spirit in our hearts and lives. In verse 16 Paul encourages to keep moving on together. "live up to what we have already attained", walk together on the road that we have already made progress on, keep going, stay steady in formation.

God wil reveal his truth to his own. The source of his truth is through Christ. so to understand the truth is to come to know Christ more. how...how can we come to know Christ more...Christ is revealed through the Spirit. the Spirit guides us into the truth knowing and know Christ better. Its clear how important a realtionship with God is. I need to be in the word, and communicating with God through the way he worked it out for us; the Spirit. i need to be humbled, to be broken by God.




"break me, take me, and make me new...Broken, surrendered, before You"