"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

Friday, June 25, 2010

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

What is the prize? Is it a closet full of clothes, a new car, a dream vacation? If you are a contestant on a game show, you'll likely win a combination of cash and prizes depending on your abilities or the spin of a wheel. In the world, the prizes seem to be big and flashy...That's what we want, isn't it? Big, flashy, fleshly prizes or do we want something else? Something quieter, more unique, of greater value than the prizes the world offers? Of course, the ultimate prize is eternal life, but what other prizes should we keep our eye on during the journey we call life?

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17 (KJV)

"Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NASB)

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)

"Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity." 1 John 2:15-17 (The Message)

The ultimate prize is eternal life with Him, but the prize for the journey is being transformed into His image. You may think that that will never happen to you, but if you want to be transformed, you must know the transformer. How can you do what He wants if you don't know who He is? And you cannot make Him up to fit your own profile of who you think He should be. You have to get to know who He is, exactly as He is through His word... "Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:5 (NASB) We need to know what is expected of us, what His rules are.

So keep your eye on the prize and do not look to the right or the left..."You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." Deuteronomy 5:32 (ESV)

"We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives." Proverbs 21:2 (The Message) Do not do only what looks good on the surface, but examine why you are doing it. Are you doing it to be transformed or applauded?

Dear Lord, Transform us into Your image. Make us want to know exactly who You are according to Your word. Let us not design You to fit our own ideas but focus on Your truth and the truth of who You really are. Help us to keep our eye on the prize of our upward calling in Christ Jesus.
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