For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

3:14   I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

If Paul is carrying the topic of resurrection from amongst the dead through the last few verses, that is his completion of his service and life upon the earth, then he gives us additional descriptions of the goal of his life.

It is a Goal

Again Paul refers to this idea of perfection, or as I now understand it as a completion of a task. It is something he has not “attained” yet but he is pushing to it

It is a Prize

The “prize” also has the connotation of being an award to a victor in the games. It is an accomplishment, something that is tangible and may be remembered to prove talent or energy expending, of the ability to excel and complete a task or race.

It is an Upward Call

It is upward, not downward. This seems obvious but consider your actions in the past day. Have your actions and attitudes been on a higher scale than last year? Last month? We are to be changing, growing and straining to a better witness of our Savior. I am becoming convinced that much of this witness is never seen by man, that our witness if true, is a continual lifestyle of service, and even as we are alone with our thoughts and Savior, we are to seek higher thoughts, higher motivations, higher attitudes, that reflect the nature He has given us.

Also, note that is is a call, an invite. You don’t have to serve, sacrifice or suffer if you don’t love Him. Walk away.

It is of God

The call came from God. Incredible. An invitation from God to a sinner, a man of weakness and frailty, a man that has been distracted, disillusioned and depressed, and yet the call goes out to this man that has no claim to deserving this call. Other than the radical love of the Savior, always seeking and saving!

It is in Christ Jesus.

How fitting for Paul to finish this description of the prize as Christ Jesus. How appropriate! How good to be reminded that He is the prize, and the resurrection from amongst the dead is not a final goal of the believer but a channel through which we will enter into His presence for all of eternity.

Consider your call my friend.

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