Living Stones – Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Do one thing
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Committed Christian is a person with a one-track mind.
The present culture has taught us, over the years, to celebrate persons who are broadminded. To be broadminded is to be: tolerant of varied views; willing to accept other opinions, beliefs, or behaviours that are unusual or different from our own.
In this pluralistic, multi-cultural, post-modern society (post-Christian even) we are unwittingly pressed into a position where we accept that our worldview is just one of many that are equally valid. And where we accept that everyone has the right to make the choice that’s best for them and that what’s right for them need not be right for us. There are no absolutes.
The word ‘broadminded’ is like the word ‘progressive,’ where the word has little to do with progress as many think it. Progressive does mean “incremental improvement in things or circumstances – developing gradually over time.” But ‘progressive’ is also a political and philosophical term that refers to changes in culture, society and politics that have to do with liberal views about sexuality, gender, and a host of other things.
Church has always taken place in a specific socio-political and socio-cultural context. And Christianity has always been a counter-cultural movement. However, at present, the prevailing worldview is challenging the Judeo-Christian worldview and influencing our own commitment to Christ.
In the passage, Paul, the Apostle, is presenting an argument that requires a fundamental shifting in our perspective as to what is required from us as true Christian commitment. Commitment has a cost and many of us today do not count that coast and may be unwilling to pay it.
Commitment requires a radical departure from the popular feel good-do well doctrines of our times that are widely available on TV and online.
Christian commitment has a goal and purpose –– That I may know Him –– Philippians 3:10,11. These are old-fashioned ideas, the absence of which has replaced our view of commitment. We are committed to our church, sometimes our denomination, often our Pastor, and to many of the causes around us, but rarely are we committed to “know Him.”
To know Him, Paul establishes that our achievements in the academic, social, economic, and religious realms must be counted as nothing in the balance sheet of the knowledge of God. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;” Philippians 3:7-9
Mature thinking is reflected in how we approach our lives in the midst of a world that has a different set of views and priorities and ranking of these matters. It matters nothing if we measure success and value the same way as the world.
Understand that our permanent residence is in heaven, and treat everything in between as temporary and of lesser value. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20.
Paul says that, when he considers things this way, he has a one-track mind, “this one thing I do.” Everything else in my life is subject to the pursuit of the knowledge of God, and at no time do I think that any achievement social or economic or religious or otherwise is a point of perfection or satisfaction. Like an athlete who has not yet braced the tape, I narrow my focus on that tape, on that trophy, on that prize and I run towards it as though nothing else matters.
We often challenge people to be committed to the roles we have given them in church, or to the services, to this ministry or that activity, but if you are of a one-track mind, if knowing Christ is your only pursuit, then everything else, education, house, land, relationships, vacations all else gets processed in that frame.
Think on these things:
- What is your primary pursuit?
- Do you compartmentalize your commitments so that your Christian commitment is equal to all of your other commitments and pursuits?
- How would things change if all other commitments were to be made subject to your commitment to Jesus?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would learn to focus all of our life’s activities around the one goal of fulfilling our calling in God.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex
