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“Press On” By Kirk Hunt
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Philippians 3:12 NKJV
From a Roman prison, Paul wrote a letter of instruction and encouragement to the Christian church at Philippa. Despite his evangelism work, and the resulting persecution, Paul understood that he remained a work-in-process. “I press on,” is a statement of faith, as well as fact.
Since Christians are imperfect, we work constantly to improve our own characters. At the same time, we also work to bring Jesus to the fallen world around us. We do not give up on them, because God has not given up on us. Given a new morning, we continue to push forward, for the world, and for ourselves.
Christians are not excused from life in the real world. Flat tires, bad medical reports and poor self-control happen to God’s people every day. The Christian walk exists in the nitty-gritty realities of here and now.
Understanding his own short-comings, Paul sought to build up others. He used an action verb to describe the internal and external work of his life and ministry. Paul made no apologies for being less-than-perfect. He only pointed out that he was working to that end, regardless.
So, like Paul, we press on. We are eager to win over hearts and minds to Jesus. Especially, but not exclusively, we labor to bring ourselves to Him.
Think: I push forward to build myself, and His Kingdom, here and now.
Pray: “Lord, help me to press forward to You.”
Copyright © February 2016, Kirk Hunt
This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.