OUR DAILY BREAD : WINNING THE BIG ONE

[cimi]

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21


WINNING THE BIG ONE

READ:
Philippians 3:14
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I press on toward
the goal to win
the prize for which
God has called me
heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
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In every field of endeavor, one award is considered the epitome of recognition and success. An Olympic gold medal, a Grammy, an Academy award, or a Nobel Prize are among "the big ones." but there is a greater prize that anyone can obtain.

The apostle Paul was familiar with first-century athletic games in which competitors gave their full effort to win the prize. With that in mind, he wrote to a group of followers of Christ in Philippi: "Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ" (PHIL. 3:7). Why? Because his heart had embraced a new goal: "I want to know Christ__yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings" (v. 10). And so, Paul said, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (v.12). His trophy for completing the race would be the "crown of righteousness" (2 TIM. 4:8).

Each of us can aim for that same prize, knowing that we honor the Lord in pursuing it. Every day, in our ordinary duties, we are moving toward "the big one" __ the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (PHIL. 3:14 NLT).
__David McCasland

**Dear Lord, when I get discouraged,
help me to keep pressing on,
looking ahead to when I will be with You forever.
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what is done for Christ in this life will be rewarded in the life to come.

**********************Today's Bible Reading _ Philippians 3:7-14**********************

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for
the sake of Christ. 38 What is more, I consider everything
a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all
things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and
be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own
that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in
Christ__the righteousness that comes from God on the basis
of faith. 10 I want to know Christ__yes, to know the power of
his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming
like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the
resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained 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. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not
consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I
do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is
ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which
God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Paul's letter to the church at Phiippi is one
of warmth and affection, perhaps rooted in his founding of this
congregation__the first church planted in Europe. While presenting
the theme of joy, the letter to the Philippians also focuses on
Paul's care for them (4:2-3). Today's Bible reading (3:7-14) draws
our attention to the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord" (v.8) and the impact that knowledge should have on
our living. _____Bill Crowder