Press toward the Mark....the Wayfarer 11/3/17
Press toward the Mark
11/3/17
11/3/17
"Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is though the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means, I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 3:8-14)
The writings of Paul give guidance toward the means of pressing toward that mark that he referenced.
His reminder here is that we have not yet attained that perfection, that is that mark, and cannot do so while still in this body that is mortal and therefore held within the confines of the corruption of that mortality, but may, and must pursue the perfection of the soul that will stand before God.
The journey toward that mark is potholed, and marred with the debris that litters the path along the way, filled with distractions and temptations that detour us from the final destination...not yet reached so long as breath remains in this "vile body" as he so aptly put it at the end of this particular chapter of the scriptures.
That verse at the end of this chapter is the meat of the matter in the pursuit of the attainment of that mark!
It is to Christ Jesus alone to whom we may look for the means of attaining that mark.
There is no self help book, no philosophy, no concept devised by the minds of men that will allow for that attainment.
All of the teachings of men, all the guidance on prospering in this world, all the continual harangue that comes from so many, selling all manner of means to assuage guilt and take credit for the blessings given by God, were, and are, counted by Paul, and should be counted by us as well as mere dung, to be avoided as we strive toward that mark.
The simple realization of place, just exactly which tiny piece of the puzzle that was constructed by God, that each of us is, will allow the sight of the far larger picture of exactly what is intended, and what is real, as opposed to what is seen narrowly in the search for where that tiny speck of the puzzle fits into that grand construct of what God has created, and the reason for its creation.
Jesus eschewed the righteousness of the Pharisees, ministered to the lowly, devoted that ministry to calling the sinner to repentance, not patting the righteous on the back, not entertaining the religious powerful and politically powerful, but reminding us of the importance of the soul of each to God, without respect to status or importance within the community of mankind.
The reason for his ministry is often forgotten, and MUST be remembered by any who would strive toward that mark... and also remembered is the failure to have yet attained the goal that is set for that mark.
That mark is not physical wealth, not power or glorification of individuals, but the sharing of the true wealth of the Love of God, and the glorification of God alone, in recognition of the powerlessness and unrighteousness of man, and of this corrupt and vile body that may only be refashioned through the comprehension of the simplistic, but all important message brought us by HIM, to give repentance for the redemption of the SOUL that will face God to meet the rewards and punishments of that which will be eternal.
The mark to be striven for is not that which is visible. but that which may be attained only through faith, only through understanding that that mark is to return the LOVE demanded of us, by God, for both God and each other...those other often unseen specks that are just as important to the puzzle as we may think ourselves to be.
I close, in complete knowledge and acceptance of my own place within that puzzle, a tiny speck in a grand universe created solely for God and HIS Love, a mere simple sinner saved by grace through faith in the message delivered by the Puzzle Master, having met and continuing to meet the requirement of repentance in return for that assured promise of redemption.
I remain, as I was created to be, that same lowly soldier in His service, wayfarer in this world, sojourner among those who journey with me toward that mark that was set for us, in prayer that along that journey, others also find that place intended for them to fit within the puzzle, without having destroyed the ability to complete the journey by the failure to find the way to attain that mark.
Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer
(Philippians 3:8-14)
The writings of Paul give guidance toward the means of pressing toward that mark that he referenced.
His reminder here is that we have not yet attained that perfection, that is that mark, and cannot do so while still in this body that is mortal and therefore held within the confines of the corruption of that mortality, but may, and must pursue the perfection of the soul that will stand before God.
The journey toward that mark is potholed, and marred with the debris that litters the path along the way, filled with distractions and temptations that detour us from the final destination...not yet reached so long as breath remains in this "vile body" as he so aptly put it at the end of this particular chapter of the scriptures.
That verse at the end of this chapter is the meat of the matter in the pursuit of the attainment of that mark!
It is to Christ Jesus alone to whom we may look for the means of attaining that mark.
There is no self help book, no philosophy, no concept devised by the minds of men that will allow for that attainment.
All of the teachings of men, all the guidance on prospering in this world, all the continual harangue that comes from so many, selling all manner of means to assuage guilt and take credit for the blessings given by God, were, and are, counted by Paul, and should be counted by us as well as mere dung, to be avoided as we strive toward that mark.
The simple realization of place, just exactly which tiny piece of the puzzle that was constructed by God, that each of us is, will allow the sight of the far larger picture of exactly what is intended, and what is real, as opposed to what is seen narrowly in the search for where that tiny speck of the puzzle fits into that grand construct of what God has created, and the reason for its creation.
Jesus eschewed the righteousness of the Pharisees, ministered to the lowly, devoted that ministry to calling the sinner to repentance, not patting the righteous on the back, not entertaining the religious powerful and politically powerful, but reminding us of the importance of the soul of each to God, without respect to status or importance within the community of mankind.
The reason for his ministry is often forgotten, and MUST be remembered by any who would strive toward that mark... and also remembered is the failure to have yet attained the goal that is set for that mark.
That mark is not physical wealth, not power or glorification of individuals, but the sharing of the true wealth of the Love of God, and the glorification of God alone, in recognition of the powerlessness and unrighteousness of man, and of this corrupt and vile body that may only be refashioned through the comprehension of the simplistic, but all important message brought us by HIM, to give repentance for the redemption of the SOUL that will face God to meet the rewards and punishments of that which will be eternal.
The mark to be striven for is not that which is visible. but that which may be attained only through faith, only through understanding that that mark is to return the LOVE demanded of us, by God, for both God and each other...those other often unseen specks that are just as important to the puzzle as we may think ourselves to be.
I close, in complete knowledge and acceptance of my own place within that puzzle, a tiny speck in a grand universe created solely for God and HIS Love, a mere simple sinner saved by grace through faith in the message delivered by the Puzzle Master, having met and continuing to meet the requirement of repentance in return for that assured promise of redemption.
I remain, as I was created to be, that same lowly soldier in His service, wayfarer in this world, sojourner among those who journey with me toward that mark that was set for us, in prayer that along that journey, others also find that place intended for them to fit within the puzzle, without having destroyed the ability to complete the journey by the failure to find the way to attain that mark.
2 Timothy 1:12 12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer
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