|
HELEN SANDERS
2-27-2023
GOALS
The world often teaches about setting goals. It might be to lose weight. It might be to read a good book each month. It might be to save for a long-desired vacation. It might be to start an exercise program. These are often good goals, but more often than not, we don’t reach the goals.
Christians often set goals too. It might be to pray more. It might be to start a fast. It might be any number of things. In Philippians 3:14 it says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The word press comes from the Greek word Dioko which comes from the root word diakonos. Diakonos means to be a servant. The word press also means to pursue or follow or press forward as in a race. It literally means one that serves to pursue the race God has called him to run.
A good example was Paul, because he speaks of such a race In Philippians. His focus was the “mark” which means goal. (Greek skopos.) His spiritual eyes were fixed on Jesus, who was the author and finisher of the race he was in. He was confident that Jesus was with him as he ran this race. He did not do it alone.
When a person is in a race, they press the hardest just before the goal is reached. They are determined to win the race. They give their all. I truly believe that we are in that time where the race is the hardest. Every muscle will scream as we run that race. Many are exhausted in the “press,” but Jesus is cheering us on! Many are weary because they have not conditioned themselves for the “long run.” Many want to drop out defeated because they weren’t taught the cost of the race, but others urge them to keep going.
The race started the day we were born again. As we are conditioning ourselves through faith in God’s promises, we run. We know the end of the race is when we see Jesus, face to face. We know that our endurance causes others to have hope. It keeps us pressing in towards the goal of being with the Lord.
There are many distractions thrown at us as we run because our opponent is the devil himself. He will try to trip us, and yes, we often fall but God reaches down and lifts us up so we can continue in this race. Let your goal be to win the race, no matter what it costs. It is never easy, but it is possible, or God would not give us the example to follow.
| 
