This week we’re studying Philippians chapter 3, verse 14. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul was such a focused, determined Christian. And today I want to look at that very first word in the verse we just quoted. And the first word is one letter. It’s “I.” Paul was so driven. He was so focused because he kept his attention on himself. He had such a personal desire to please the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this passage that we looked at today, there are several things in the preceding verses that I want to point out to you about Paul’s personal persistence. He was personally persistent to know Christ, “that I may know him,” he says in verse 10. How’s your walk with God today? And I see that in verse 12, “not as though I had already attained.” He had a good evaluation of his own spiritual standing. He hadn’t attained. His prayer life wasn’t where it should be. His Bible reading, it wasn’t where it should be. His soul winning, it hadn’t arrived yet. So he had a good personal evaluation.

And then it says in verse number 13, “I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do.” He was focused personally. So today we have to keep our eyes on ourselves, evaluate where we are spiritually, and seek to live determined for the Lord Jesus Christ. Have a great day.

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Andrew Reimers

Andrew Reimers, Sunday School Director

Having grown up in a wonderful Christian home, Brother Reimers was saved at an early age. After high school, he moved from Meriden, Connecticut, to attend Golden State Baptist College in 2009. Following graduation, he married his wife Joy and joined the church staff as Director of North Valley Publications and the Sunday School.