Today's Passage - Phil 3:13-16

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Phi. 3:13-16   "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus..."   For Paul, no matter what the circumstance is, there was only "one thing" that he did!  Paul was a simple person before God.  Simple doesn't mean that he didn't understand the perils of the world, for he is simple because he is focused.  There is one characteristic with everyone who pleased God, and that is all their life their eyes were focused on God.  In Psalm 27:4, David said that "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD."   When Jesus was in the house of Martha and Maria, He heard Martha complained about how busy she was and said ""Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better."  No matter how much you have to do and how much pressure is in your life, and regardless of how things are coming and going in a flash, is your heart still focused on one thing before God, which is to have more of Christ and let Christ have more of you?  Why do we need to forget what is behind us?  Because what happened in the past often become the obstacles for our growth in life.   Failures in the past can become accusations in our heart, making us live in fear, and successes in the past can make us depend on stocks, talent and relationships over depending on God.  Is that how you are living today?  "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize."  No matter whether you succeed or fail, the Bible says that the world and everything in the world will come to pass, and only those who follow God's will can be preserved for eternity.          Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord Jesus, I once again come before you and I ask that you help me to focus on you.  I am willing to everything that my hands and my heart are holding on to tightly.  May your Spirit renew me again, have me and use me!  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!