Press On

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

—Philippians 3:12 (NLT)

Grace gives me the joy to press on. I don’t press on because it is required. I don’t press on to win Jesus’ love for me. He revealed His love on Calvary, and I received it when I believed in Him. I press on to receive the continued revelation of what He has done for me. Not pressing on would erode the peace of His presence. Not pressing on could even erect a wall to understanding the freedom He won for me.

He is perfect. I am not. As long as I live in this human body, I shall never reach absolute perfection. But that never keeps me from pressing on to know Him more. It never keeps me from this adventure of loving Him—this spiritual growth to understand what grace means in my life. I press on to grasp the depth of His love that first possessed me.  

The grace of Jesus is all that is perfect. When I allow—when I press on, His perfect grace does a work in me that I could never achieve. He gives me the desire to understand the gift of His life for mine. I press on to be transformed by the unfathomable depth of His grace—to possess that perfection—that flawlessness of love with which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 

Why do you press on? Are you continually striving to meet those requirements that only Jesus could meet?  Or do you seek to know better this precious Savior who gave His life for your freedom? 

God has written you the most excellent love letter—His Word. The Word is where you will learn His love for you. God wants you to understand what the power of His grace means in your life. You can never earn God's love, but you can wear yourself out trying to prove to Him that Jesus has made you righteous. You don't have to prove what He has done in you. Jesus is your proof. He approved of you when He died for you. 

You receive all Jesus has for you by faith. You press on because Jesus pressed on for you. You press on to grasp the revelation of His grace with which He first possessed you. You press on in His power. It is not your work. It is His.

© 2019 Lynn Lacher

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