December 06, 2018: SOAP #3290:  Philippians 1-4

Scripture:  Philippians (NIV) 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Observation:  In reading the above verses, I do not think that Paul was one to sit around and let life come to him.  He had been chosen; he had been called; he had been illuminated; he had been forgiven; he had been sent.  He was on a mission.  There was an urgency about his life.  He had a reason to live.  Each day’s activities revolved around his assignment.  He was living for the One who had died for him.

Even when he was detained and unable to travel, he did not let what happened to him stop him from “pressing” ahead with his purpose.  His mission was too important to waste time sitting in prison doing nothing.  What limited him, focused him!  He wrote letters!  He wrote the above verses while in prison!   Paul’s ministry continues today!

Application:  God can use my limitations to focus me.  If I will stop looking at what I cannot do, I will be better able to focus on what I can do.  If I am going to “press” ahead, it will be in doing what I can do—it will be in using what I have, ignoring what I do not have.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what I do have is Your word!  What I do have is your promises!  What I do have is your Presence!   What I do have is Your Holy Spirit!  Holy Spirit, help me to minister out of the fullness of what I have and forget about what I do not have. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!