Philippians 3:13-14

As we enter into the second half of the year let us press on with doing what the Lord has called us to do.

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

In the recently ended Southeast Asian Games, Singapore won 157 medals. When compared with other nations we are ranked number 6. It is not easy to win medals. Athletics put in a lot of hard work to prepare and train for the race. Some trained for the whole year just for one minute of competition. Some work even harder just to shave off one or two seconds from their personal best.

The Apostle Paul likens the Christian journey to a race. He wrote, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) The key word in these 2 verses is press on.
Dr James Hudson Taylor III, the former General Director of OMF, wrote, “One night, as I was meditating on the Word from the Apostle Paul’s testimony when he speaks of “Press On”, I wondered, “What could Paul press on to while he was a captive in prison?” Then it dawned on me what Paul urged us:

a. Press on to know Him more deeply.
b. Press on to testify of God’s love, and
c. Press on till He returns.

And that was exactly what Dr Taylor did. He pressed on despite his battle with cancer. Our Lord Jesus did too. He pressed on in spite of the knowledge that he had to suffer a painful death on the cross.
As we enter into the second half of the year let us press on with doing what the Lord has called us to do.