Pressing On

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Philippians 3:12 NLT)

In your more honest moments, when it’s just you and the Lord and you know that He knows not only the words you’re thinking, but what those words mean to you as you use them, what are you professing to be pressing on to achieve? Are your words declaring your true desires, the sum of everything you are or ever hope to be, as you press toward your goal?

Paul’s goal was perfection, as revealed in the verse above. The word translated “perfection” means “to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end.” (Strongs)

These verses beg the question: “What am I seeking to accomplish in and through my life?” As a believer in Jesus what is it toward which you press? What is it that demands everything you are to carry it through to completion? Obviously, the waters can be muddied by our personal goals and interests. Perhaps your goals include things like – to be married, to have a family, to get a job, to start a business, to see the world, to write a book, and on and on it goes.

Desires to accomplish something of importance and meaning can be as varied as there are people on the planet, but if Jesus is who He claimed to be, and in my heart and mind I believe He is, what is THE most important goal we should pursue? As I understand His desire for each of His followers, it’s to become like Him. Jesus is the only perfect human being who ever lived, and when life on this earth has ended and every person who has ever lived is now dead, He will still stand as the only One to ever be perfect.

Yet, according to Paul, isn’t that every believer’s goal, even though we know from the outset that our goal will never be accomplished this side of eternity? Is it an exercise in futility? Absolutely not! Then why is it so vitally important? The closer we get to Him the more He reveals Himself to us; the greater our desire and persistence in becoming more like Him, the more meaningful our life becomes.

Little is much when God is in it, but when our focus is on ourselves and our success as a human being, we’re often so distracted by the grandiose plans we have for ourselves we miss the details in the plans God has for us. We see thoughtfulness and kindness as incidentals, while the Lord sees them as keys to unlocking more Christlikeness.

Jesus performed many miracles, but the basis of every one of them was compassionate, caring love. Love isn’t simply the result of perfection, it’s the roadway to it. Perfection, in terms of being more like Jesus, will never occur, even in eternity, without attention to detail, and that can’t and won’t happen without love.

Love sees value in the small things, which is so vital because we’re not going to be made whole in one step. It’s millions of small steps taken carefully and with effort to love in small ways along the way. Growing in perfection isn’t simply being like Jesus in the things we do. Everything that Jesus thought, did, or said was motivated by love. If we could paint a picture of perfect love, it would be Jesus on the Cross.

If our goal is to be like Jesus it will happen as we nail our wants, wishes, dreams, and desires to the cross of self-love, and shift our efforts to always being anchored in our love for Jesus and our desire to see His life lived out in and through us to His honor and fame. We press on as we rid our lives of anything that isn’t motivated by Christ who is love.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊