Press on

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

Paul speaks of his goal in this verse. The prize of the upward call. The prize of that call is glory. Paul knew that if he continued in his faith and pressed on in spite of the obstacles he would receive his reward.

Imagine if Paul had let obstacles hinder him from preaching the gospel in all of those places where churches were established. Many people would have been lost for eternity. Paul knew that his calling was to share the good news about Jesus. His goal was to share that wherever he went. Whether  it be in a prison or on a river bank he would share with those he came in contact with.

photo  ©2010  jayneandd, Flickr

We too must press on toward the goal and the prize of eternity in heaven with God. We share in the same calling as Paul, we are to share the gospel wherever we go. We cannot let obstacles hinder our progress toward the goal.

So today, let’s treat every obstacle as a stepping stone on our way to the goal. Let’s press on full speed ahead and challenge every obstacle and overcome it. If we overcome in this life we will have a glorious heavenly reward.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

He who has ears

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15 ESV

This statement is repeated by Jesus many times in the Gospels and the Revelation. He uses this statement at the end of many of the lessons He teaches. It is obvious that Jesus uses this phrase to get the attention of His audience.

Using it at the end of a lesson forces the hearer to ask themselves; have I truly listened and heard what Jesus wanted me know? It has been said that the reason we have one mouth and two ears is because we need to listen twice as much as we speak. So often we say we want to learn, but we don’t listen as well as we should. This is what Jesus dealt with when He was addressing huge crowds. They were there to listen to what Jesus had to say, but all too often they didn’t hear what He had to say.

photo  ©2007  grafixtek, Flickr

Today we don’t hear Jesus lessons audibly, but we do hear them through the written word. We too are charged to hear what Jesus has to say to us. As we read His lessons we need to hear the core message that Jesus is trying to get across to us.

So today, let’s work hard on using the ears that God gave us to hear what He has to say to us through Jesus teachings. Let’s encourage others to be quiet and listen too.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman