Philippians 3:12-16

A devotional commentary of Philippians 3:12-16.

Devotional Commentary of Philippians 3:12-16

Philippians 3:12-16

Pressing Toward the Goal With Maximum Effort (Philippians 3:12-16)

In many ways, we live in a very sporty nation. A nation that loves to see its sportsmen and women achieve at the highest level. In similar ways, the apostle Paul must have been a sporty person because he so often used athletic analogies, or athletic metaphors to illustrate spiritual truth. One of his athletic analogies was that of a runner, running a race. Several times in his writings Paul referred to this running metaphor, this picture of maximum effort as one strives toward the finish line.

In some ways, the Christian life is a race and the Christian is a runner--a runner pressing toward the goal with great effort and enthusiasm. Paul said, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). In other words, Paul lived the Christian life with purpose, with enthusiasm, looking unto Jesus--the author and finisher of his faith--knowing that one day he would finish the race and collect the prize. In the same way, Paul encouraged his readers to press toward the goal, to run the race set before them with maximum effort.

Paul gave three reasons why we should press toward the goal.

They are:

Christianity is a growing process (3:12)
Christianity is a striving process (3:13-14)
Christianity is a maturing process (3:15-16)

The question we must ask ourselves is this: are we striving, growing, and maturing in our Christian walk? If not, then we need to look at what is hindering our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.