02.04.02

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14.

According to a survey of those planning to watch the Super Bowl there are a variety of reasons for viewing the game. Some people watch the Super Bowl because they like football and this is the premier event in football pitting the top two professional teams. Some watch the Super Bowl because strangely enough they like to watch the commercials. Another reason given for watching was the halftime show, which always has “star attraction.” Then there are reasons like, “Everyone else is watching it so I’m going to watch it too.” Or my all time favorite reason is, “There’s nothing else on TV tonight so let’s watch the Super Bowl.”

Most likely none of us will ever know what it is like to actually participate in a football Super Bowl by being a player, coach, or trainer. However, there is a Super Bowl that we can all participate in and in fact participation is mandatory. You could call it the Super Bowl of Life and whether you like it or not you are in it. The apostle Paul understood this saying, “I press toward the goal.” Paul was giving his passion for his Lord everything he had. Sadly, most Christians are not like the apostle Paul in their single-minded devotion. For various reasons we get off course and life is not about giving it all for the Lord. Instead we are much like the viewers of the Super Bowl and have many different reasons for the passions we have in life. We enjoy the commercials of life, and the halftimes of life, and the pageantry of life.

How can we have the passion that Paul had for his Lord? We begin where Paul began and he tells us what to do in verse 13. First, Paul tells that in spite of his service, knowledge, and godliness that he has not arrived yet and will never arrive at a point where he will retire. Paul says, “Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended.” No, as long as he has breath he’s pressing on, he’s moving forward. We must do the same. Second, Paul is not dwelling on his failures of the past. They are over, they are past, they are done. He’s forgetting them and moving on toward the goal line. Paul says, “forgetting those things which are behind.” We have to do the same and 1 John 1:9 is a good place to start. Third, Paul is not standing still he is moving on, “reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize.”

There is still time left on the clock, the game is not over so let us too continue on, reaching forward, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.
(You can read the entire message at http://www.theburningbush.org/newestsermons.html )