The Prize? Christ Jesus My Lord - Part 790

"And His Name through faith in His Name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by Him, hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16)

Jesus never fails. Indeed, "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord -- for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ." (Philippians 3:8-9) 

It is for this reason that when we believe in Jesus by faith, and seek His righteousness, that our conversation is focused on heaven. 

We seek our Saviour -- the same God who willingly took on sin prone flesh so that through His sacrifice of love, we could know Him personally. We could walk in the cool of the day with Him, praising Him for His goodness and grace.

It is this same He who is coming back to this earth soon to change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself. (Philippians 3:19-21)

Jesus -- the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The first and the last. Almighty God in the flesh. Emmanuel - God with us. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Yes, He who knew no sin becoming sin for you and I, shedding His precious blood on the cross so that we could experience His abundance of love, mercy and grace. 

The first chapter of Colossians tells us more: 

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. 

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. 

In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. 

All things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell. 

And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

This is why I want to be found desiring my Lord God and Saviour Jesus, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith .. that I may know Him personally and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.

If by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after .. that I may apprehend that for which also I am of Christ Jesus.

Most of all, this one thing may I do -- forgetting those things which are behind me, and reaching forth unto those things which are in the days ahead -- let me "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:8-14) There is NOTHING in this world that is more precious. Stand in the offering plate.