30 Days of Deeper (Day 26)

I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. ¹³I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. ¹⁴I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. ¹⁵So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. ¹⁶And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.

Philippians 3:12-16. The Passion Translation

Our sweet Rachel posted this yesterday on Facebook, and as many times as I have read this verse, I had NEVER read it in the Passion Translation. And it took my breath away.

I am personally an extremely GOAL-ORIENTED person. To a fault really.

How is that a fault you might ask?! How can setting goals, striving to be better, etc etc be A BAD THING? Well it isn’t bad if there is as much an allowance of GRACE as there is a GOAL.

I am poster-child for being hard on myself. But Paul, who tells us in the very next verse to “pattern your lives after mine” is as much GRACE-ORIENTED as GOAL-ORIENTED. And its workin’ for him.

I am leading an accountability group for fitness right now, and the MAIN thing I want those sweet women to hear is PERFECTION IS NOT OUR GOAL but instead, everyday, “run with passion into his abundance!”

There is an ABUNDANT LIFE FOR ALL OF US. Christ died for US TO HAVE IT. And anywhere in our lives we ARE NOT LIVING ABUNDANTLY is an indicator light that God wants us to “forget the past and fasten our hearts to the future instead!”

(See how much I love this verse!?)

Paul was all about PROGRESS and he was quick to celebrate each step toward his goal and YOU SHOULD BE, TOO.

GRACE-ORIENTED!

Here is how I am breaking this verse down for reflection this morning. I invite you to join me:

What is the “absolute fullness that I’m pursuing?”
How am I “running with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill?”
Where am I “depending on my own strength to accomplish this?”
What do I need to forget about the past? Is the past holding me back?
What is “the divine invitation” or the “heavenly goal” I will gain through the anointing of Jesus?
Who else around me “has this same passion” that I can run alongside?
Lord, show me how I can follow what your are asking of me with one path with one passion.