Ahead and above - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

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

Ahead and above
Yesterday we remembered that we shouldn’t think too much of ourselves. From the Lord Jesus we learn to take a place below and behind. The Apostle Paul lived this out in his life. He became the scum of the world and the offscouring of all (1 Corinthians 4:13).

But in today’s Bible passage, he writes of something else – about “above” and “ahead”. He is not thinking of himself now but of Christ. In other words, Paul is saying here, “When it comes to the Lord Jesus, I can still pick up the pace in my life. Therefore I want to strive upwards and forwards.”

The Son of God filled his whole heart. Paul knew and could say: He loved me and gave Himself for me. But he also knew Christ as the one in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. When Paul looked up, he saw the Lord Jesus sitting on the throne and reached out to Him with all his strength. When he looked ahead, he saw the glorious goal before him and desired with all his heart to be with his Lord.

We too should seek to reach out to the Lord Jesus in our daily lives. How glorious it will be when we reach our goal and see Him as He is! So when it comes to Christ, the aspiration of our heart should always be directed upwards and forwards, as it was with the Apostle Paul.

Today’s reading: Isaiah 20:1-21:17 · Acts 27:1-13