One thing
One Thing Philippians 3
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. "
One thing I do. I do is not in the original language. You will see that in italics in some translations. So one thing . The one thing is ? The service of Christ is the one thing and a high calling. Whatever interferes with this or is not part of the goal , as the runner looks forward in this passage ,needs to be taken out.
I thought of this when I trimmed around the orange trees, bushes that bore so many oranges last year . There are trees actually growing right near them and around them. The trees block the sun that the oranges need to grow.
What do we need to get rid of in our lives so that we may bear fruit and know the one thing? It may be pruning is so required in our lenten journey which ends on Easter .
It may be we have added something too that is not helpful and takes away from " the one thing". The Apostle talks about that as well..Philippians 3:2," Beware of the dogs, beward of the evil workers, beware of the concision.." Some in the church had substituted outward ceremonies, such as circumcision , for Christ and faith in Him. Paul says that those who trust in Christ are the true Israel of God. " Not an external rite but a cleansing of the heart is the real sign of a right relation to God." Erdman
What things not only in our lives but in the Church do we see as necessary that are not? They hinder us on the run to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. As the runner we must have a single purpose .
2. The successful runner must strip for the race, and have freedom from encumbering weights... " forgetting those things which are behind." We strip ourselves of our own righteousness. Note " this one thing" not this "one thing I do" Our own doings or good deeds do not earn us eternal life.
" and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." 3:9
How often we nurse old grudges and hurts. We cannot forget. We must let them go, and try and move on to God's agenda for us in our lives and in the lives of others. The world asks for retribution and feels they deserve certain things . As Christians we are to live in a higher place forgetting those things which are behind. It is not easy but in the power of Christ and His Spirit to forget.
3. Ceaseless exertion....press on is present indicative active in the verb tense. I press on, and keep pressing on to the prize of the upward calling in Christ Jesus. The verb means to aggressively pursue like the hunter, chasing after with all haste , and earnestly desiring to overtake.
We are zealous about many things but pressing on in the power of Christ and His Word is necessary despite what we encounter in our lives. People frustrate us. We do not know what they are doing and feel frustrated, but God knows. Some of these things should be done in a prayerful way without action. In the light of eternity, we need to weigh what is important, and what is not.
Listen to this from an author who knew about living in the life Christ had given: " Frederick Buechner
And now brothers, I will ask you a terrible question, and God knows I ask it also of myself. Is the truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without him is the real death, that to die with him the only life? "
Source: The Magnificent Defeat
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. "
One thing I do. I do is not in the original language. You will see that in italics in some translations. So one thing . The one thing is ? The service of Christ is the one thing and a high calling. Whatever interferes with this or is not part of the goal , as the runner looks forward in this passage ,needs to be taken out.
I thought of this when I trimmed around the orange trees, bushes that bore so many oranges last year . There are trees actually growing right near them and around them. The trees block the sun that the oranges need to grow.
What do we need to get rid of in our lives so that we may bear fruit and know the one thing? It may be pruning is so required in our lenten journey which ends on Easter .
It may be we have added something too that is not helpful and takes away from " the one thing". The Apostle talks about that as well..Philippians 3:2," Beware of the dogs, beward of the evil workers, beware of the concision.." Some in the church had substituted outward ceremonies, such as circumcision , for Christ and faith in Him. Paul says that those who trust in Christ are the true Israel of God. " Not an external rite but a cleansing of the heart is the real sign of a right relation to God." Erdman
What things not only in our lives but in the Church do we see as necessary that are not? They hinder us on the run to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. As the runner we must have a single purpose .
2. The successful runner must strip for the race, and have freedom from encumbering weights... " forgetting those things which are behind." We strip ourselves of our own righteousness. Note " this one thing" not this "one thing I do" Our own doings or good deeds do not earn us eternal life.
" and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." 3:9
How often we nurse old grudges and hurts. We cannot forget. We must let them go, and try and move on to God's agenda for us in our lives and in the lives of others. The world asks for retribution and feels they deserve certain things . As Christians we are to live in a higher place forgetting those things which are behind. It is not easy but in the power of Christ and His Spirit to forget.
3. Ceaseless exertion....press on is present indicative active in the verb tense. I press on, and keep pressing on to the prize of the upward calling in Christ Jesus. The verb means to aggressively pursue like the hunter, chasing after with all haste , and earnestly desiring to overtake.
We are zealous about many things but pressing on in the power of Christ and His Word is necessary despite what we encounter in our lives. People frustrate us. We do not know what they are doing and feel frustrated, but God knows. Some of these things should be done in a prayerful way without action. In the light of eternity, we need to weigh what is important, and what is not.
Listen to this from an author who knew about living in the life Christ had given: " Frederick Buechner
And now brothers, I will ask you a terrible question, and God knows I ask it also of myself. Is the truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without him is the real death, that to die with him the only life? "
Source: The Magnificent Defeat
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