YGT: Permanently Pressing (The Good Life)

How do we get the good life?  

Well, that depends on your idea of "good". We often believe that a good life is one where we're "happy" - where we don't have to worry about anything. However, if we define our lives by God's standards, the good life is not an easy life. You see, God's definition of good is quite different. 

Paul gives us a hint of this when he said "this one thing will I do" in Philippians 3:13-14.  He said he will PRESS. One of the definitions of press in Greek is to pursue in a hostile manner.  That means to work, scratch, crawl, kick, bleed, and sweat your way to your destination.  

Many of us can relate to what it means to press.  Everyday our lives seem like we are in a battle as we try to live for God.  It is my belief that the pressing we do each day is good to God.  Paul said it better when he said at the end of his life he wants to be able to say "he fought the good fight of faith."  Or in other words, that he pressed.  

Our social expectations and childhood fantasies have painted a picture of the good life that was never given by God.  I like to imagine that God is looking down, watching us press each day, and longing to say "Well done, my good and faithful servant".  When God says you've lived a good life, that's when you know you've attained it.  Until then, this one thing will I do...

Lord, please help us to be strong and continue living for you.  Help us press.  Please be with us when we would like to give up on the journey.  We desire to know You, but it is hard.  We desire to live for You, but it is painful.  We want to hear well done and to hear you call our lives good.  In Christ's name and for His sake, Amen.

In hostile pursuit,

j.a.g.

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Philippians 3:13-14Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

II Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight of faith, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Matthew 25:23

His lord said unto him, Well done good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

On the One Degree Theory

A good friend of mine, Mark Baker, and I were having a conversation and he mentioned the most incredible thought. Mark is truly one of those organic sages. Often, he says things that are just mind-blowing. I tell him that I’m going to write them down and I have written many. I thought I’d share one of our most recent conversations here. It was definitely helpful to me.

In discussing our futures, Mark suggested that there is a point that our lives are supposed to end up at. This point is our destiny. However, what we do everyday can affect where we end up. He likened this to a point that we are aiming at. If we are off even one degree today, we can completely miss the destination we were supposed to end up at. This is illustrated below.

Like Paul in the Bible, Mark believes there is a mark that we are supposed to reach when we end this life. (Philippians 3:13-14 below) That mark is stationary – it doesn’t move. What can change are our behaviors and attitudes today. If we are off now even one degree, it can mean the difference between success and tragedy.

Does that mean we need to become perfect? Well, not exactly. It does mean we should always be being perfected – becoming more and more like our destiny everyday.

Another important part of this theory that Mark mentioned is the idea of our family’s destiny being affected by our ability to reach our individual mark. If we are off one degree, it could take our children years to get from where we’ve taken them to where they’re supposed to be. In essence, they have to make up for all the work we didn’t do and then live their own lives too.

That sounds like a lot of pressure! However, the simple message for me was to live a life of diligence. Not overly concerned with being a perfect person, but overly concerned with being perfected. Making sure I am improving everyday. Making sure my children and grandchildren aren’t fighting some of the same pitfalls that I face today. This kind of diligence makes you evaluate your decisions more, be a better neighbor, and accomplish the goals God has given you. Be consistent, be diligent, and remember, one degree can change everything.





Lord, thank You for the power of friendship. As You said, iron sharpens iron. I thank You for the Bakers and their wisdom and insight. Even more, I thank You that You have a plan for my life. Please allow me to keep pressing toward that mark. Give me the wisdom to see you in every potential opportunity and decision. Please correct me when I am off even one degree, so that I reach my destiny. Thank you for reminding me that Ashley and my destiny are interdependent [and that Jocelyn (and future children)’s destinies are dependent on us]. I know this is not meant to burden me, but it is meant to show the significance of today. I love You and look forward to knowing You more.






Sifting,
j.a.g.








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Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.