We Got To Keep on Keepin On
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
Isaac Newton’s Law of Motion says, “A body in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted upon by an outside force.” I think that’s a great law for our spiritual lives. Once we are “in motion” as believers in Christ, we need to stay in motion. As R&B legendary singer Curtis Mayfield said, “We got to keep on keepin on”.
St. Paul definitely understood the Law of Motion. He knew that no matter what he had achieved in his spiritual life, there was always more of Christ’s nature to attain. In fact, Paul knew this motion to be a call from God, and “upward call”. God is calling all His children to continually grow in Christ.
Even as the Resurrection raised up Jesus in body, mind, and soul from the grave, so too this “upward call” is the power of the resurrection continually lifting us heavenward until one day, we are with Him in Paradise. But, just like Newton’s Law, outside forces can come against our momentum in Christ.
Satan and the spiritual forces of evil continually try to come against our spirit, trying to slow down and even stop our momentum, if possible. However, the good news is the resurrection power within us is greater than the powers of evil that come against us. We don’t have to stop. As the modern hymn “In Christ Alone” says:
“No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand (Listen to the full song here)
To “stand” in Christ, is to be ever moving upward. Christ’s call is continuous, not static. So, “Keep on, keepin on”, and remember, Christ is risen…and so are you!
Grace & Peace,
+Pastor Brad
Prayer
Gracious Heaven Father, I hear your upward call. Help me by your grace to resist the forces forces of evil that come against me today, and to keep pressing onward and upward. Amen. Alleluia!
Image credit: http://www.faithmama.com/?p=325
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