Pursuing God’s High Calling in Christ Jesus
Philippians 3:14 (KJV) “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
“I press” is an interesting choice of words, but when you explore its definition, it becomes quite clear what Paul meant when he wrote this.
The word “press” in this verse comes from the Greek word diōkō, which means:
• to pursue • to chase after • to strive earnestly • to run swiftly in order to catch something
So, Paul is telling us that he is pursuing and earnestly striving to chase after the mark for the prize in Christ Jesus.
The Mark
The word “mark” in Philippians 3:14 comes from the Greek word skopos, which means:
• a goal • a target • a fixed point or aim • something you keep your eyes on as you move forward
Everything we’re after is not of this world. Our prize is in heaven, where God has called us with a higher calling than anything this world has to offer. There is nothing of material value that could compare to what God has prepared for us.
As it is written:“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
-1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (KJV)
Jesus has set the mark for us. Everything we do must align with His standard, which is a perfection we are taught daily by the Holy Spirit.
“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
– 1 John 2:27 (KJV)
Though there may be trials and suffering, Jesus has given us victory in anything we face. We will press forward toward God’s high calling—the reward of eternal life (the mark)—which is only found in Jesus Christ. Our aim is to be at home with Jesus in the eternal kingdom.
Reflective Questions:
• How can we stay more focused on heavenly things and less on worldly things? • Are we doing all that we can to stay true to the path that Jesus left for us to follow? • Do we sometimes put the things of the world before God?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we aim to please You daily. We ask in Jesus’ name that the Holy Spirit guide us as we chase after the goal You have destined for us. We hope we bring You joy each and every day. Help us focus on the world less and the things of Christ more. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
All Scripture in Steps Towards Eternity Daily Devotional is from the King James Bible. (KJV)
Scriptures marked KJV are taken from the KING JAMES VERSION (KJV): KING JAMES VERSION, public domain in The United States. Pathway365 is based in the United States and is governed by its laws. Outside of the United States, you’ll need to check the copyright laws in your country before use.
Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press