Run towards the title sign
Content cell?br />
Philippians 3:12-14
bsp;
So this is what Paul is saying.
bsp; It is not that I have already obtained it, nor that I have achieved it
bsp; But I run to seize that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
bsp; Brethren, I have not yet considered myself to have caught, but only
bsp; That is, forgetting what is behind and trying to catch what is in front... 12-13
There are several important passages in this confession. These are the words ‘forgetting what is behind’, ‘toward the goal’, ‘for the reward of the calling’. This is the attitude of the runner, the appearance of faith, and the attitude of life.
1. ‘Forget what is behind’ 3:13
bsp; If a runner keeps looking back, he will not be able to run properly. Forget what is behind and run forward. What was the ‘things behind’ that the apostle Paul confessed to forget?
1) Sins and transgressions / The past of the Apostle Paul before accepting Jesus was not so honorable. He was proud, he was a legalist, he was a persecutor. However, after meeting Jesus, repenting, and being born again, his life was completely different. We put on the new garments of Christ, taking off our old garments. His past was shameful, but he is convinced that he has already become a child of God and does not look back.
Even in real life, there are people who live in the past. If I had done that then..., I shouldn't have done it then.... I always spend today's time with regret. But the past time is a time that will never come again, a time that has disappeared forever. Therefore, people of faith should say this. ‘Wrong. But now it will be different in the Lord’ ‘failed. Nevertheless, I will rise again in faith.'
The key word here is 'in Christ'. It's not about just forgetting and just taking it for nothing. We do this by believing that our sins are forgiven in Jesus and that we can rise again by the grace of the Lord.
2) Achievements / The impact that the Apostle Paul had on the church and faith is indescribable. Most of the New Testament is His Word. He is the one who laid the foundation for our faith. He is the one who established numerous churches in the early church, endured countless persecutions and risks of death, and worked hard for the gospel until the end. And his power, knowledge, and wisdom were unspeakable. However, it is a confession that we will forget the things behind what we have accomplished in Jesus with gratitude and run forward with only our mission.
The past is important in life. Because there is no me without the past. Past experiences, past experiences, past achievements, nothing is insignificant. However, the Christian's past should always be a confession of gratitude that 'Ebenezer' -- 'God has led us this far'. The right attitude of a Christian is the attitude of faith that glorifies God with the belief that my self is God's grace. The past is precious. But it is always beautiful with gratitude.
Paul said that we forget what is behind. It is said that pride, mistakes, and faults are forgotten. Because true faith always knows that there is an unfinished existence and runs to grab what lies ahead.
2. ‘Toward the mark’ 3:14
bsp; Because it is an unfinished existence, the target in front of it has been established. The goal in front of the apostle Paul was Jesus Christ. His goal was to become like Jesus, follow Jesus, and fulfill the will of Jesus. It is a life of sanctification if you follow the words of Pastor Wesley. It is a life that is born again every day, a life that is renewed every day, a life that becomes holy every day, and a life that becomes like Jesus every day.
A long time ago, one of my gifted professors from Gamshin University was invited to a church in the Incheon area. After taking the train for a while, when I thought about it, I only knew it was Incheon, but I couldn't remember what kind of church it was. So, there was a time when I heard that they just came back after panicking. That's what happens when you lose them.
So you need to know. Otherwise, the trip itself would be meaningless. Jesus is our target. In it, I will become a certain Christian. How will I become a person used by God? What kind of vessel will it be? I bless you that this is your target.
3. “For the reward of the calling” 3:14
bsp; The Apostle Paul confesses that the reason he runs forward with enduring pain and difficulties is because he believes that God will praise him and reward him.
bsp; .... I run for the reward of the above call of God 3:14
When people hear stories of blessings like this or that God gives them blessings, there are people who think it is ups and downs and low-level faith. But only when we believe in God's blessings, that faith becomes practical, living faith, and prayerful faith. Of course, there is no such thing as living according to God's will, but there is a superstitious belief that only prays for blessings. Such a belief is an attitude that needs to be corrected with the Word, and because of that, faith in God's blessings should not be regarded as a low faith. Rather, God delights in rewarding those who believe.
bsp; Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must know that he is
bsp; He must also believe that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
What a wonderful and blessed word! It says that God rewards those who believe in Him. And it is only when we have this kind of faith that God is pleased.
Sometimes, even when we go through the deep valleys of our lives, when we cross over the steep hills, we must not look back with resentment but constantly move forward while looking at the Lord who works together for good as a goal. In such a case, on the contrary, the path becomes a blessed path and a path of grace.
bsp; It is good for me to be afflicted
bsp; By this I have learned Your statutes. Psalm 119:71
So, don't be overly discouraged when things don't go well. If you come to God with sincere faith, God will change you.
If it succeeds the first time, but fails later, it is a failure. Even if you run last at the beginning, if you finish first, you will be first. A life that was successful in the world, but empty to God is a life of a shell. We believe that a life that God approves, a life that pleases God, a life that receives a reward from God, is a life of success. I bless you all to become saints who run with faith while looking at the prize of the calling you have been called from above.
Today is Wesley Conversion Day. The 'life of sanctification' that Pastor Wesley taught is a life of forgetting what is behind and constantly running forward toward the reward of our calling, as in today's Word. I bless you that this life of sanctification becomes your life.