Toward the goal
“12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Paul encourages us not to remain at the starting point of our faith, but to journey deeper into a more profound spiritual life. Confessing Jesus as our Savior marks the beginning of our faith, and from that point, we are called to continually grow to resemble Christ. This journey is ongoing and leads us into greater depth.
Believing in Jesus is not merely a declaration; it involves fundamental transformation across all areas of our lives. Living out our faith means far more than just attending church. It involves encountering Jesus personally and growing to reflect His image through our relationship with Him. Paul’s "goal" represents a life that increasingly mirrors Jesus Christ. This is the true essence of faith. Paul admits that he is still pursuing this goal and urges us to strive towards greater likeness to Christ as well.
A life that resembles Jesus is not just about outward actions or following rules. It begins with deep, inner transformation. Whether as a pastor, an employee, a parent, or a student, we each go through this process of becoming more like God in our respective places. In this journey, we gradually restore God’s image in us and live in a way that reveals His glory to the world.
“For our citizenship is in heaven”—this verse clarifies our true identity. Although we live in this world, our true identity is in heaven. Having citizenship in heaven means that we are not merely passing through this world but are called to live according to heavenly values as God's people.
We live a life striving to resemble Jesus on this earth, but the ultimate fulfillment of this will be realized when we are with Jesus in glory at His second coming. At that time, we will fully reflect His image and reside in His glorious presence.
Prayer: Lord, we set You as our goal and pray to resemble Your life and glory. May the Holy Spirit grant us courage and reveal Your radiance, so that joy overflows in our prayers and our deepest desires. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.