We are here at the beginning of 2022 and as this past week has revealed, it does not look much different from 2021.  But be of good cheer our gracious, loving, merciful, patient, gentle, glorious, mighty God is in control! So we look to Scripture to see what the word has to tell us.

We look to the Apostle Paul as a great encouragement,
“…I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12

Making ‘pressing on’ the desire of our hearts is natural for the followers of Christ.  We see in Hebrews 12:1 that we are to,
“…lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Let us examine our own heart to see what encumbrance or sin hinders our pressing on the upward way.  

Scripture gives examples of hindrance to spiritual progress.  Here are a few:
“But his (Lot's) wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”  Genesis 19:26  (The allurement of  the world prevented Lot’s wife from escaping.)

“Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor.”  1 Samuel 17:38  David was delayed by Saul’s equipment -- man’s way, (But God had already prepared David in the perfect use of the sling!)  Read Vs. 39-40

“And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.”  Matthew 13:58  (Unbelief hindered Jesus’ work in His own hometown.)

“But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property.”  Matthew 19:22  (Worldly wealth hindered this rich man from following Jesus.)

Concerning ‘spiritual progress’ it is a characteristic of one in right standing before God:
“Nevertheless the righteous shall hold to his way, 
 And he who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.”  Job 17:9

“The righteous man will flourish like a palm tree,
 He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”  Psalm 92:12

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
 That shines brighter and brighter until full day.”  Proverbs 4:18

Of the ‘race set before us’ as mentioned in Hebrews 12:1, this is what Paul says in  
 1 Corinthians 9:24-25:
“Do you not know that in a race all runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize?  So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.  Vs. 24
Of encumbrance:
“Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things.
Why?
“They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that can not wither.”  Vs. 25
Vs. 24-25 are from The Amplified Bible.

 Like Paul in, 2 Timothy 4:7-8 let us all be able to say,
“I have fought the good fight., I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day…”

There is so much more to ‘pressing on’ and it is my hope that these few verses will be an encouragement for each of us to do a more in depth study.

With grateful hearts let us give thanks and glory to our Father who has qualified us for this inheritance in Christ Jesus the Lord.  Amen

So we sing:
“I’m pressing on the upward way,
 New heights I’m gaining everyday.
 Still praying as I’m onward bound,
‘Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
 Lord lift me up and let me stand
 By faith on heaven’s table land;
 A higher plane than I have found.
 Lord plant my feet on higher ground.’”