“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14
During the Kentucky Derby or any other horse race, what you will often find attached to the horse’s bridle are things called blinders. They are small leather or sometimes plastic cups that are placed around the eyes of the horse to keep them focused on what is in front of them. Paul said, “I press on toward the goal…” This implies decisive movement towards a finish line. What’s the finish line of faith? To know Him! But spiritually, we can become distracted from our overall, daily goal in our Christian lives: to spend time with God and to know God. These goals keep us from distraction. However, as we get to know Him, our relationship with God overflows into our relationship with other believers and ultimately into our relationships with those who do not know Him. Therefore, your ability to be sensitive to the spiritual lostness of those around you rises and falls based on your intimate relationship with Jesus.
Have you ever made the connection between your relationship with God and your ability to share in the mission?