November 3 – LD 44, Day 6: Pressing Toward the Mark
by Pastor Steven Key
Philippians 3:13-14: “Brethren,
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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.”
The reality of our
imperfection is not where we stop. In fact, we who are Christ’s are very
dissatisfied and saddened by this reality of our sinfulness. It is simply
impossible to resign ourselves complacently to this imperfection. With the
apostle Paul, we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). We struggle on in the battle of
faith, pressing forward in our expression of gratitude to God, so that with a
sincere resolution we begin to live, not only according to some, but all the
commandments of God. Does this characterize your life?
The life of those who
have been converted to God is not a stagnant pool, but a flowing stream. There
is no standing still, but progress. So the Holy Spirit of the exalted Christ
works. We who are in Christ are partakers of the life of Christ. We are one
plant with Him. A living plant germinates and buds forth in all directions and
grows, bringing forth the fruits that are fitting to that plant. Such life is
the driving force behind that sincere resolution that we begin to live not only
according to some, but all the commandments of God. Our life must be
characterized by the new obedience, the obedience of love, love for God and the
neighbour. Spiritual growth is the characteristic of
one who is converted, even though his new obedience remains but a small
beginning.
That love for God’s law
and desire to walk in the way of His commandments in thankfulness to Him, is a
love and desire that has been instilled in our hearts and awakened by the Holy
Spirit. So even while we lament our sinful nature, we thank God for the wonder
of His grace in our salvation. We confess with the inspired apostle in Rom
7:24-25: “O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our
Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of
God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”