Philippians 3:12-16
We are to live each day in light of the goal that Jesus has saved us for.
- We must Remember that we have been called to a race
a. We've not yet arrived
b. We need to forget the past to run well
c. We need to strain forward to run well
- We must Remember that there is a goal
a. The goal is Knowing Him
"Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart" -A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
b. Knowing Him is meant to be like exploration not just education
"The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word. We have almost forgotten that God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can. It is inherent in personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality be another cannot be achieved in one encounter. It is only after long and loving mental intercourse that the full possibilities of both can be explored." - A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
c. There is a prize
- We must Remember that we are His
a. He has made us His own
b. He will enable us to grow
c. He will call us up
We are to live each day in light of the goal that Jesus has saved us for.
Potential Caregroup Application Questions:
- How does remembering that we're not yet complete help us grow in humility and encourage us to pursue growth?
- What past failures, weaknesses or sins do you need to stop letting distract you and put behind you to run the race?
- What past successes or accomplishments do you need to stop resting or trusting in and put behind you to run the race?
- How can you personally pursue a posture of "exploring" God and what would change in this area look like?
- How can you encourage each other in the joy of the exploration of God more?
- How does recalling that "Christ has made us His own" & that "God will call us upward" give us fresh faith to run the race?
