Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Have you yet obtained perfection in any area of your life? In this verse Paul says he has not yet reached his goal, and he is not yet perfect either. Our life doesn’t have to be perfect in any way for us to still be pleasing to God.
The Message Bible says: I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.
“Press on” means to: pursue, follow after, and be given to. As long as we are pursuing God with our heart He accepts us, not because we can please Him in His perfection by doing things perfectly, but by being willing to do the next right thing even after we have screwed it up. We are determined to receive the prize that Christ Jesus has already won.
I press on toward Christ-likeness. I’m not perfect but I am pleasing to God by being like Jesus.
- Reading Plan A: Mark 15:27-47
- Reading Plan B: 1Timothy 5
- Reading Plan C: Deut. 28; Mark 15:27-47
Excerpt permission granted by
Word of Faith Church & Outreach Center
Called to the Body of Christ as a pastor and teacher, Tim Davidson pioneered Word of Faith Church in Bismarck in 1980. He served as its Lead Pastor for 35 years and now serves as Founding Pastor. Pastor Tim has pioneered 6 churches in North Dakota and now serves as Regional Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International. Teaching believers foundational truths from God's Word is his passion.
He has authored 3 yearly devotion books that are used both here and overseas to help believers become "rooted and grounded" in their faith.
God is now calling Pastor Tim to share the treasury of wisdom and knowledge God has given to him with other pastors and churches.