8/19/2019 0 Comments Philippians 3:14Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. NIV 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 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NASB I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. TPT I’ve always liked this verse. Of course it is even more inspiring when read with the surrounding verses. And until last week, I thought it was one of the least controversial verses in the bible. My husband and I were coming home from church last Sunday and talking about this verse. Naturally, a very passionate conversation broke out. He says that any translation of the bible that uses the word win in this phrase is heretical because it gives the reader the idea that we can somehow earn salvation through works. Grace is a gift freely given by God and nothing we do can ever change, subtract, or add to it. He had a point. But the more I started to ponder this verse and its meaning, I was drawn to the word prize/goal. One definition of prize is anything worth striving for or much valued. Our heavenly call is definitely something valuable and worth striving for, but is it something to be won? Maybe. Don’t misunderstand. God’s love is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Nothing I will ever do or have ever done will change His love for me. His grace covers my sins, all of them. Full stop. My salvation is a gift freely given, and I can never do enough good stuff to earn it. So if His love remains true, His blood washes me clean, and His grace is enough; how can my heavenly call be something I can win? Hmmm… Each time I answer a call on my phone, I am attentive partaker in “receiving” said call. I can passively ignore the ringing. I can block the caller. I can send the caller a message asking them to call back later. But when I choose to accept the call and speak to the caller, I become an active participant in the call. God’s calling in our life is no different. He calls us, what happens next is up to us. We choose everyday whether to answer or ignore the call. I wonder how many people have accidentally blocked God’s call because they were too busy with “life” that they forgot the reason they were living it. Perhaps the prize in this case isn’t an earthly one or eternal salvation, but the chance to hear our father say “Well Done!” It’s not striving towards salvation, but towards heavenly greatness. Works won’t get you into heaven, but faith without works is dead. Each of us has a call of God on our hearts, each of us must accept the call (or not) and then work towards achieving that prize. The winning comes when we accept the challenge, not when we attain the goal, because the goal isn’t really the goal. The effort and striving, the growth and discovering, the discipline and learning help us to live victorious lives now, and gain heavenly rewards later. I have no idea how the whole “heavenly rewards” thing works, but that doesn’t matter. I want to press on and win the prize, whatever it is, that God has called me to do now. And when I win the prize, my victor’s crown will be cast at His feet, that’s my goal.
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AuthorI am a Christian, a wife, a mom, and a part-time basket case who wants to be a full time writer.
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