The scripture for today, March 14 (3/14), is Philippians 3:14, as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Toward the end of Jesus’ sojourn on earth, he knew that, out of jealousy, the religious leaders were trying to kill him. So for a while, he stayed out of Jerusalem where the religious headquarters was. Eventually, the time came for him to put himself in their hands. Was it easy for him to do? Definitely not! For he knew his death would be by torture. But he pressed on.
“They were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished while those who followed were afraid” (Mark 10:32).
Jesus pressed on. He did not want to go through the crucifixion. Hebrews 5:7 says that “during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.”
As difficult as it was for him, Jesus pressed on toward the goal to win the prize. But the prize was not for himself; it was for us ~ eternity in heaven instead of hell!
None of us has to go through what he did for our salvation and avoidance of hell. Our little bit of sacrifice is nothing by comparison. Shall we throw away the prize Jesus sacrificed so much for so we can have a little more fun, accumulate a few more things, be a little more important to our friends?
Can you press on? Or are you throwing away your prize?
“So, you handed them over to their enemies who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed, they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.”
“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.”
“Rejoice evermore.”
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”
“ ‘Why do you bring charges against me? You have all rebelled against me,’ declares the Lord.”
“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.”