COLUMN: Run the race for Christ

 The Apostle Paul ran a race for the Lord Jesus Christ. He explained to the Philippians (3:10-16) some of the things involved in his race.

First, he said, “I must know Him.” 

“Know” in Greek means to know in a very personal way. It is the same word that   used in the Old Testament when it said, “Adam knew his wife Eve.” The word speaks of the closest intimacy between a husband and wife. Paul wanted to know Christ in a beautiful, intimate, personal and first hand way. This is a characteristic of a born-again Christian.

Paul felt he must grow. He said, ”not that I have already attained.” Life was a journey and Paul had not arrived. There is nothing worse than a person who thinks they have arrived spiritually.

The Apostle realized that growth took work – “I press on.” You don’t grow by coasting. It takes work.

Paul knew that God had a purpose for his life. God does not save us to sit until he takes us home to heaven. He has a purpose for our life and we need to find it and fulfill it for his glory.

In running the race Paul had to move forward – “I press on.” Paul had to concentrate – “this one thing I do.” He had to concentrate if he was going to know Christ. He was going to forget the things in the past that might hold him down. He was going to press on to what was ahead.

Paul learned many things in running his race for Jesus. We must always desire to know him better and always be seeking to grow more like Christ. We must move forward in our growth and service. In all things we must seek to have the attitude of Christ. We never arrive, but we are always seeking to attain.

Let us commit ourselves to know him better. We need to grow more like Christ as we run our race for Jesus.