"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" (Phil. 3:12-14).

There is no room for complacency in the life of a faithful Christian. Jesus pressed on with His work - "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4). This work ethic was instilled into the Lord's apostles who "went out and preached everywhere" (Mark 16:20). Even the apostle "born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:8) shared this same attitude.

Paul did not rest on his lineage or heritage as reliable grounds for an acceptable standing before God (Phil. 3:4-6). He did not see himself as having already crossed the finish line. Despite his zealous efforts to spread and defend the gospel, he continued to press on in his efforts (v. 12). Paul did not allow the sins of his past to drag him down or discourage him. He forgot those things; letting go of them so he could reach forward to do the work and enjoy the blessings that were ahead (v. 13). The gospel calls man upward, and that was the direction Paul always went. The goal was before him, and Paul would not stop until he had reached it (v. 14).

What about you and me? Are we pressing on to lay hold of what Christ has in store for us, or will the Lord find us to be lukewarm in our attitude? "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth" (Rev. 3:15-16). Let's press on.