12-20-10
“Those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it… Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty (lack of focus)… I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest…I should become disqualified.
(I Cor. 9: 24-27). The prize Paul sought was to receive God’s testimony about his life, that he walk in obedience. Paul’s highest goal was to win the prize of presenting this testimony to Jesus on the last day that his obedience was complete and his love for Jesus was perfected. The prize involves offering to Jesus a life of complete obedience and then receiving His response, which includes eternal rewards that express how He feels about us loving Him in this way.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected… I do not count myself to have apprehended… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God.” (Phil. 3:12-14) Paul wrote towards the end of his life that he had not yet attained the prize of the testimony of obedience. God’s testimony about our life is not given until we complete our race. Paul had several years before his race was over. The prize of the upward call of God is to receive the testimony about our life that we finished the race in obedience. Paul was assured of the prize of the crown of righteousness as his race was nearing completion. “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…on that Day”
(2 Tim.4:8).
We have a certain amount of years in this life to bring every area under the Spirit’s leadership as our way of demonstrating our love to God. All who are wise will make this their greatest single goal for which they will gladly sacrifice pleasure, money, and even honor in ministry.
The pursuit of comprehensive obedience includes bridling our speech, making a covenant with our eyes and refusing to look at anything that stirs up lust, disciplining our physical appetites, and managing our time (for service and prayer) and our money (to increase the kingdom beyond personal comfort).
Power in our life is found in pursuing obedience. There are powerful dynamics that occur in our heart when we soberly seek to walk in total obedience. God gives us many opportunities to make decisions that prove our love to Him. We will make wrong decisions we regret, yet we have opportunity to change them. If we make right decisions in obedience, He gives us many opportunities to confirm them, or prove them in our character.
Our greatest calling is to love Him in a complete way with love that is perfected. Every movement of our heart in seeking to show love to Him by obedience moves Him, and thus it is not in vain. Do you know the way you move Him? Each time we repent of compromise, it moves Him. The Lord values our journey to grow in love. If we do not quit in our pursuit, then we win.
Blessings,
Gary