by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Looking to the Prize

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me. Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 God’s Word to the Nations

You would not believe how many pictures I’ve taken that are out of focus. (And for some reason, I keep them on my hard drive. Yes,  I have a problem. I’m a photo hoarder.) I knew that I had nailed this picture when I took it. I knew there would be depth to this picture, a kind of 3D look to it. I knew that when I developed the film, hung it to dry, then scanned it, it would look beautiful. You don’t know how many times I’ve been disappointed. How many times I’ve said to myself, “Not again!”

That’s the story of my life, but probably not my life alone but your life too. We quickly lose focus, we forget what’s important. Since Adam and Eve, we’ve been consumed with self, we’ve covered our nakedness as it were (Genesis 3:7) because of the shame of failure. Even though we’re redeemed, even though we know the power of forgiveness in Jesus, we still lose our focus.

By his example, Paul reminds us that staying focused is key to living a Christian life. Staying focused means not looking back and relishing the “good ole’ days” which probably weren’t so go to begin with. It’s staying focused on what is yet to come, the promise of life with Christ. It’s not forgetting that in Jesus, we are God’s children now.

I know that I’ll take more out of focus pictures, however, I pray that my life would remain focused on Christ. I hope you do too.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado