I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Devotion based on Philippians 3:14

When word leaked out that Sylvester Stallone was working on yet another Rocky movie, many people groaned and rolled their eyes. After all, it had been thirty years since the original film and fifteen years had passed since the last installment, Rocky V, opened in theaters. Critics had panned Rocky V as nothing more than a thin, tired last gasp of a worn-out franchise.

Despite the guffaws, Stallone soldiered on. He believed Rocky Balboa still had something to say. He was right. The film, simply entitled Rocky Balboa, hit the big screen in 2006. And to everyone’s amazement, Rocky Balboa was good. Very good.

The climactic scene of the film is an emotional exchange between Rocky and his son, who, by now is a young adult. His son has just poured out his heart to Rocky, describing the difficulties and hardships he’s had to endure because of the ups and downs of his famous father. Rocky’s response is poignant and powerful. After describing to his son how brutal, unfair, and relentless life can be, he says, “[But] it ain’t about how hard you’re hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

The apostle Paul knew a thing or two about taking hits. Over the years of his ministry, he’d endured beatings with rods, imprisonment, stoning, angry mobs threatening his life, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst and lack of sleep. He’d endured the heartache and disappointment of people turning their backs on Jesus.

Nevertheless, Paul pressed on. But here’s the point: He pressed on not to make himself worthy of his heavenly prize. Rather, he pressed on because of what Jesus Christ had already done to secure the heavenly prize for him. Christ had already secured victory by living a life of perfect persistence in Paul’s place. He had already secured victory by going to the cross and washing away Paul’s many sinful stumbles and falls. Therefore, what drove Paul to persevere was God’s persistent love for him in Jesus.

And that is what drives us, too.

Prayer:

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