One Thing I Do...

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."—Joshua 24:15

I have been studying the book of Philippians and reading this verse brought my mind to a section of Philippians 3 where I personally have been camped for a week.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but 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. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”

Those verses together stopped me in my tracks...Joshua and Paul have the same mindset...they were pursuing the same thing...Christlikeness.  Paul's prize, and ours, is the very purpose God had in saving us:

"Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29).

Focusing here on one phrase from Phil 3:13...but ONE thing I do.

Paul had reduced the whole of sanctification to the simple and clear goal of doing “one thing”—pursuing Christlikeness.  I love that for many reasons but mostly because it makes it easier for me to remember and bring it to mind when I need to apply it.  Paul presses toward the goal and does not allow himself to be distracted.  Joshua without equivocation serves the Lord.  He pursues holiness and like Paul is jealous for those under his care to do the same.  Neither want to have labored in vain

Praying that by His gracious Spirit who dwells in me and desires this for me that I can surrender and run as one who wants to win that prize.  Direct me in this, Father, by Your Spirit, to run all I think, say and do through the filter of:

Will saying that or doing this or acting this way coincide with my lifelong pursuit of becoming like my Jesus?

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,—Hebrews 12:1-2a

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,—2 Cor 10:5-6