Daily Devotional For Saturday, August 9, 2025
Good morning and I pray your Saturday is going to be one in which God uses yo u to impact the life of another for His glory. I don't know how many of your doers and how many of you are procrastinators. There are times that even doers procrastinate. Getting things done requires motivation, determination and perseverance. There are times we simply do not want to do something that has to be done. The Apostle Paul writes this in Philippians 3:13-14, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (NLT).
“Pressing on” in a term from the Olympian races. This is the Greek New Testament word [ἐπεκτείνομαι, epekteinomai]. It is a participle which in Greek, refers to continuing action. In other words, “Keep stretching forward.” This is a vivid athletic term. One commentator notes, “It means that the athlete throws himself forward in the race with all his energies strained to the very utmost” (Source: H. D. M. Spence-Jones, Philippians, The Pulpit Commentary, p. 114). You can almost see that track runner stretching their chest out as far as possible as their approach the finish line. To understand the context, we have to go back to Philippians 3:12, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me” (NLT). What “things?” – spiritual maturity.
Paul knew he had not achieved spiritual maturity; he was not perfect or sinless, but he lived in absolute confidence of his ultimate salvation. As Christians, we know we are saved, but that is not the end. We are to be in the on-going process of sanctification – maturing and growing in our relationship to Christ to become more and more like HIm every day and less and less like our world and culture every day. Jesus talked about this. Read Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:48. Jesus tells us to be “perfect.” Tall order don’t you think? The word here does not mean without sin, so what does it mean? The Greek New Testament word is [τέλειος, teleios]. This word means “to keep maturing.” It is often used for wine that matures over time. Great wine takes time to mature or to reach its state of perfection.
So one bookend of maturity is Matthew 5:48 and the second bookend is 1 John 1:8. We have to acknowledge that in Christ, we are not now all we should be and can be in our spiritual maturity due to sin. Therefore, we can live or dwell in the past. If we do, we allow the past to be a barrier to God’s future for us. We could use our past as an excuse to not even try, or to quit or to avoid all attempts at spiritual maturity. No matter how current spiritual condition, we should be committed and devoted to the Lord. See Luke 9:62 and Luke 17:31-32. Paul did not let his past of being a legalistic Pharisee and a persecutor of the church, with all of his past Jewish credentials and accomplishments, impact his relationship to Christ. As a runner, he was running to win this race. He had the goal in sight and would not be deterred from reaching it.
New Testament scholar Kent Hughes writes this: “But one thing I do” introduces a single sentence that draws on the metaphor of a foot race described in the graphic present tense but with clauses that reference the past (“forgetting what lies behind”), the future (“and straining forward to what lies ahead”), and the present (“I press on toward the goal”). It is a picture of absolute focus and intensity” (Source: R. Kent Hughes, Life Application Bible Commentary, “Philippians , p. 148).
Track runners know not to “look back,” but to keep their eyes forward on the finish line. Looking back can cause a delay and even cost you the race as actually did happen on August 7, 1954, a the British Empire Games in Vancouver, Canada:
“The greatest mile-run matchup ever took place. It was touted as the “miracle mile” because Britisher Roger Bannister and Australian John Landy were the only two sub-four-minute milers in the world. Bannister had been the first man ever to run a four-minute mile. Both runners were in peak condition. I remember as a junior high boy carefully turning the pages, examining the photos of the famous runners in Life magazine, and absorbing the statistics and predictions. Roger Bannister, M.D., who became Sir Roger Bannister and master of an Oxford college, strategized that he would relax during the third lap and save everything for his finishing drive. But as they began that third lap, the Australian poured it on, stretching his already substantial lead. Immediately Bannister adjusted his strategy, increasing his pace and gaining on Landy.
The lead was quickly cut in half, and at the bell for the final lap they were even. Landy began running even faster, and Bannister followed suit. Both men were flying. Bannister felt he was going to lose if Landy did not slow down. Then came the famous moment (replayed thousands of times in print and flickering black and white celluloid) as at the last stride before the home stretch the crowds roared. Landy could not hear Bannister’s footfall and looked back, a fatal lapse of concentration. Bannister launched his attack and won the Empire Games that day by five yards” (Source: R. Kent Hughes, Life Application Bible Commentary, “Philippians , p. 148).
It is so tempting to look back into our past at our accomplishments and relish in them. But for the Christian, we have to forget those and push and press forward with perseverance to win this race. The Bible tells many other stories of perseverance. Moses persevered when the people he led were ungrateful and uncooperative. Joseph persevered through injustice and imprisonment. Daniel persevered through the indignities of slavery. Jesus’ ministry was defined by perseverance in the face of resentment and hatred.
One of the challenges we face is the need to persevere. It is easy to become discouraged, but we want to finish well. When the adversary reminds you of your frailty, your vulnerability, and your previous failures, begin to declare what God has said about you. Persist in your prayers and proclamations until the heaviness departs and the joy of the Lord fills your heart! Together, we will press on. Together, we will claim that heavenly prize!
Assignment: Reflect on your current place in this Christian race. Are you pushing and pressing yourself to become more and more like Christ, or are you looking back at your past living before you came to Christ? Do you just come to church due to legalism and push yourself to worship HIm or do you just go through the motions to appease everyone? When children are growing, it is common for parents to take a wall and over time mark their height. It gives the child a visible indicator of his or her growth. What can you do to mark your spiritual growth with the Lord?
Scripture To Meditate On: Luke 9:62, “But Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God’’ (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Heavenly Father, I rejoice in Your great faithfulness to me. Your lovingkindness overshadows me. You have called me out of darkness and set my feet on a path of righteousness. All my days are secure in your hands. Give me the courage to overcome and the strength to persevere so I may accomplish Your assignments and finish well. I put my trust in You, for You are a faithful God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly