“Paul’s new modus operandi was daily plumbing the depths of this relationship. He was looking into the face of Jesus and seeing the sparkle in Jesus’ eyes for him. . . . Each step closer increased his experience with this indescribable inner contentment and sense of purpose.”- Randy Frazee
“Not that I have already attained 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.”- Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
“To know the incomprehensible greatness of Christ demands a lifetime of arduous inquiry.”- Dr. Gerald Hawthorne, Philippians
In Principle #13: Put the Past Behind You of The Joy Challenge, Randy Frazee stresses that Paul committed to press on. The word in the Greek language means to pursue, to hunt down, or to chase. Therefore, Paul wanted to pursue Jesus like Jesus hunted him down on the road to Damascus.
Thus, Paul felt satisfied that he possessed a relationship with Jesus. But his walk with Jessus needed to improve. Hence, Paul zeroed in on one thing to know Christ better and increase his joy. First, Paul focused on forgetting his past. Yet, that’s quite different from failing to remember. The key involves utilizing the values of your past without winding up stuck in it.
Certainly, the world attempts to conform or squeeze us into their mold from the outside in. However, Randy underscores, God provides the power that enables us to renew our minds from the inside out.
J. B. Phillips translated Romans 12:2 in this manner:
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and move toward the goal of true maturity.”
Finally, Warren Wiersbe once defined the first essential to progress in the Christian race as a satisfied dissatisfaction.
Today’s question: How do you apply Paul’s new modus operandi to your own life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The small tick called sin”