August 26, 2019 – Philippians 3:13b-15

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Philippians 3:13b-15.

The memories of the past are finished.  Only what lies ahead fills our hearts with purpose. When my Mother grew up on a farm, she often helped her father in the field.  She walked endless steps behind the horse pulling the plow to prepare the field for seed.  As the rows curved this way and that way, she realized she needed help. Her Dad came to her rescue. He taught her to keep her eyes focused on the fence pole at the end of the field. She then learned to keep her eyes on the goal, and pressed forward.

Just as we keep our eyes on the call of God in Christ Jesus, and want to please Him, Mom wanted to please her Dad and plow a straight row.  She reflected her Dad’s teaching, and learned to press forward.  She enjoyed serving others because of her deep love for Jesus. I often think of the little girl in the half-plowed field, wearing a bonnet against the hot sun.

Our goal is to press forward to what lies ahead, following God where ever He leads us.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:6

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it, we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21.