Press On. Perseverance. Commitment to achieve a goal. Remember a time in your life when you actively were pressing on to achieve a goal, like getting a job promotion, getting into college, or getting fit enough to run a marathon. Remember how much effort you put in to achieve those goals?

But unlike most of the goals we strive for Paul calls us to press on to achieve an all-consuming spiritual goal to be like Christ in his suffering and his glory until we are united with him. This is an all-in no chips left on the table kind of commitment, no back-up plans for if it doesn’t work--Paul says this is what we spend our lives on. This is the way to win the ultimate prize, the one that will be eternally valuable.

Philippians 3.14-16

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What is Paul pressing on for?

+ What does the prize look like? What does “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” mean?

+ What kind of person lives this way?

+ How do we hold true to what we have attained already in Christ?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Am I actively pursuing Jesus first in all aspects of life? Do I need to develop training habits to help me press on?

+ Are there things in my life that hinder me from the upward call of God?

+ Have I asked God where in my life He wants to reveal where and how I think otherwise to this truth?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?