Focus

Paul sat thinking about the Isthmian Games held close to Corinth, where he had repaired tents, and wrote to encourage the church to run their race, “Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” The track was roughly two hundred meters, and the runners ran with every weight removed. Only freemen of Greece could compete—not slaves or foreigners. This all pictures our Christian life as only freemen in Christ, not slaves of the world, can run this race. And all believers are in the race. As sinners, God offered us eternal life as His free gift: Yet once we believe and possess eternal life, scripture tells us we are running for a prize. A reward often talked about by Jesus, to be granted for faithfulness, diligence, endurance, and wholehearted devotion.

Paul declared that he ran this race with purpose, embracing suffering, thirst, and hardships because he saw the value of the prize. Paul’s strategy to fulfil his calling and win the prize was simple and instructive.   “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Php 3:14 . The word Goal, often translated Mark, is the Greek word “skopos”. In the race, the “skopos” was the man at the finish line watching for the victor. The prize was given to the one who reached the mark (goal) first. That goal is Christ

Friends, to finish our race well, we too must press toward the “skopos”. Whether in a difficult patch or times of joy and releasing the kingdom, our pursuit is to close the gap between Him and us. Jesus is our mark—not ease or ministry success. Even revival and harvest are not the mark. To pursue anything above Him is to miss the goal entirely. Jesus is the One thing needed. He is the message, the mission, and the measure. Just seek Him, adore HIm, gaze on Him, listen to HIm, and obey HIm. When we live in intimacy with Him, other kingdom goals are secondary, but the fruitfulness of purpose and mission becomes inevitable.