Last Sunday was a new experience for me — I participated in the worship service from my bedroom, watching the stream while quarantined away from my family. It was only the second time in 23 years of ministry that I called in sick on a Sunday morning. That story could have gone a different way, but by God’s grace, I stayed home and Mike McFadden stepped in with a great sermon. I’m grateful for that team.
This week, we’re still in the book of Philippians, and Paul gives us a word that feels especially relevant in 2021: keep pressing on. In Philippians 3:12-21, Paul says he hasn’t finished yet — he’s still running the race, still pursuing the prize. And if Paul says that about himself, we definitely need to hear it.
The Prize You’re Running For
Before we look at how to press on, let’s make sure we understand what the prize actually is. Paul describes it as “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (v. 14). What does that mean?
It means two things: receiving our glorified bodies when Christ returns, and forever being with the Lord. Paul unpacks this in 1 Corinthians 15 — in a moment, at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised imperishable and we who are alive will be changed. And in 1 Thessalonians 4, he describes the Lord descending from heaven with a cry of command, the trumpet of God sounding, and the dead in Christ rising first, then we who are alive caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
That’s the prize. Not a someday-in-heaven vague hope — a concrete, bodily, face-to-face moment with Jesus. Everything Paul does flows from that destination.
How We Press On
Paul tells us in Philippians 3 that there are at least six things involved in pressing on. We’ve looked at two already (awareness of where you are, and intentional effort), so this week let’s focus on four more.
1. Concentration
To press on towards this goal requires concentration. If our attention is on the wrong things, we’re going to end up going in the wrong direction — maybe not immediately, but eventually.
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable — whatever is excellent and worthy of praise. That’s not a suggestion. It’s a strategy for staying on course.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
— Philippians 4:8
The world around us is not concentrating on the things of God. That’s not a criticism — it’s just reality. But you and I are different. We’re children of God, heirs of Christ. Our attention needs to be fixed on the upward call.
Galatians 4:6-8 puts it this way: because we are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. So we no longer act like slaves — we act like sons. And Paul asks a pointed question: now that you have come to know God (or rather, be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world?
What are you concentrating on these days? If you’re not careful, you might drift in a direction you didn’t intend to go.
2. Right Motivation
Pressing on requires the right motivation. Paul’s motivation for everything he did was the moment when he would stand before Jesus and hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That’s what drove him.
Paul met Jesus face to face on the road to Damascus. That encounter changed everything. He spent the rest of his life looking forward to the next time he would see his Lord — and he wanted that meeting to go differently than his first one. He wanted Jesus to say “well done” because of how he stewarded what was entrusted to him.
Here’s the beautiful part: you don’t have to sell everything and move to Asia to pursue this prize. Everything you already have and do in this life can be used to honor Jesus. Your job, your education, your family, your talents — all of it can be offered up in pursuit of that moment.
The Parable of the Faithful Steward (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates this perfectly. The master went on a journey and entrusted his possessions to three servants. Two of them traded immediately and doubled what they were given. The third buried his talent out of fear. When the master returned, the first two heard “well done, good and faithful servant.” The third heard a stern rebuke — not because he lost money, but because he did nothing. Fear paralyzed him.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
— Matthew 25:21
God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear — He’s given you a spirit of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). He’s given you the Holy Spirit so you can be motivated by love for Him, not paralyzed by fear.
3. Whose Team You’re On
Pressing on also means recognizing whose team we’re on — and making sure we’re running with the right people. Paul acknowledges in Philippians 3:15 that he’s not the only one in this race. We have each other.
And that’s where community matters so much. 2 Corinthians 6:14 asks a series of rhetorical questions that paint a clear picture:
“What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”
— 2 Corinthians 6:14-15
A believer and an unbeliever have two different destinations. Two different races. Two different finish lines. Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t befriend non-Christians — we absolutely should be salt and light. But our closest relationships, the people we run alongside, need to be people who are pursuing the same prize.
This is most obvious in marriage — choosing a spouse who is a fellow believer — but it applies to friendships and business relationships too. If your motivation and someone else’s are completely different, you shouldn’t be yoked together. The wrong friends will take you in the wrong direction, whether you realize it or not.
4. Consistency
Finally, we press on with consistency. Philippians 3:16 sums it up: “Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”
This is where the rubber meets the road. Awareness, intentional effort, concentration, right motivation, the right community — all of it matters. But Paul says don’t stop. Keep going. Don’t slide back. Don’t get distracted.
Why? Because our Master is coming back. We don’t know when — and honestly, looking at the world around us in 2021, we have genuine reason to think it could be soon. But whenever it happens, when we stand before Jesus and are finally changed and in His presence, we will experience the goal of our faith: the prize of the upward call.
Until then, we keep pressing on. Together.
So What?
Maybe 2020-2021 has left you spiritually exhausted. Maybe you’ve called in sick a few too many Sundays — not because of a virus, but because your heart just wasn’t in it. Maybe you’ve been running with the wrong crowd, or concentrating on the wrong things, or letting fear keep you from doing what God has called you to do.
Here’s the good news: you’re not done. Paul wasn’t done. And as long as you’re breathing, there’s still time to press on. Not in your own strength — God has given you the Holy Spirit, the body of Christ, and His Word to keep you on course.
Concentrate on what’s true. Be motivated by the face-to-face moment that’s coming. Run with people who are running the same race. And hold true to what you’ve attained.
Our Master is coming back. Let’s be found pressing on.
Scripture References
- Philippians 3:12-21 — Pressing on toward the prize
- Philippians 4:8 — What we should concentrate on
- 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 — Glorified bodies at Christ’s return
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 — The dead rising and being caught up
- Galatians 4:6-8 — Sons, not slaves
- Ephesians 4:11-16 — Building up the body of Christ
- Matthew 25:14-30 — The Faithful Steward parable
- 2 Timothy 1:7 — God gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-control
- 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 — Do not be unequally yoked