Winning the Prize

MORNING

Devotion

Everyday disciples of Jesus have three clear foci.

1. Disciples are past-oriented. At the center of our faith lies a series of events that occurred almost 2000 years ago. Jesus lived, died, rose again, and ascended to heaven. We constantly remember and celebrate these events because they are foundational to our grace relationship with God. Our faith is founded on an historical event - the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

2. Disciples are present-oriented. God is at work in our lives today. We talk with God and listen to His Word. We enjoy His presence and recognize His guidance. God’s Spirit lives in us and works through us. We appreciate all that God is doing in our world and align ourselves with His work.

3. But disciples of Jesus must also be future-oriented. That’s what Paul is getting at in this Scripture. We carry a sense of dissatisfaction with our world and our own brokenness (3:13). We love what Jesus has done for us and what He is doing in and through us, but we know that there is a great reward ahead. We believe that our future is way better than anything we have known and experienced so far. Jesus has called us to follow him because He wants to share this reward with us (3:12, 14). It’s our hope, our goal, our prize. Our future orientation propels disciples of Jesus to make a huge effort to follow Him and to finish well. Paul uses words like “pressing on” and “straining.” We have a constant eye on our incredible future, and this keeps us persevering and giving it all we’ve got. We will not miss out on the amazing prize.

Prayer

Thanks, Jesus, for what You have already done. I deeply appreciate Your sacrifice for me. Thanks, Holy Spirit, for all that You are doing at the moment to strengthen and empower my spiritual life and ministry. Thanks, Father, for promising me an incredible future with You. May this “prize” be so real that it encourages my effort and commitment today.

Today’s Bible Focus

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)

1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.

2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.

3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.

EVENING

1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.

2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what He has said and done.

3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.

4. Release: Name any concerns or fears that are on your mind and release them to Jesus.