“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press onward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

The Apostle Paul instructs believers that our prize is not behind us, but ahead of us, and so he encourages us to reach for “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.

Some interpret the upward call as the final call God gives to each believer when their body dies and they go home to live forever in Heaven while others interpret the upward call as the rapture when Christ comes back to gather all believers to live eternally in Heaven. Either way, we can see that the upward call is an ending, the finish line you could say.

As we reach for the finish line, Paul instructs us to press onward toward the goal for the prize…so to reach the prize, we must work on the goal.

What goal?

The goal of becoming more like Christ – “the call of God in Christ Jesus“.

Sweet friend, when you asked Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior, He secured the prize for you – eternity in Heaven. But you and I are still kicking here on earth, and that means there’s work to be done. God doesn’t call us to run amok in His grace and mercy.

No dear heart, He calls us with an upward call – a divine focus – to become more like Christ in our actions and attitudes each day. When we become more Christ-like, we open ourselves to a great many blessings and promises. Christ Himself told us that He came to give us not just life but life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Beloved, God wants you to be successful in gaining the full benefit of His blessing and promises here on earth and He will equip you to progress toward the upward call:

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8

“May he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”

Hebrews 13:21

We won’t see perfection this side of Heaven and it benefits us to embrace that truth as the comfort and relief it is. God does not call us to be perfect, but He does call us to make progress, to keep reaching for the prize, becoming more and more Christ-like in our actions and attitudes each day.

Thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus who secures the prize of our home in Heaven!

Thank You God for Your grace, mercy, and encouragement to keep pressing onward toward the prize of Your blessing and promises here on earth!