THE HIGH CALLING AND THE PRIZE

Philipians 3:14 KJ2000
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Dear Believer,

There are terms that we must study in today’s focus scripture.

There is what is called ‘the high calling of God.’ Then we read of the prize of that high calling. There is the mark for the prize, and there is the idea of pressing towards that mark.

Each Believer has a high calling. There’s no such thing as a low calling in Christ. Christ doesn’t call people into ignominy. He calls into glory.

A true Believer is a presser. He doesn’t sit down idly twiddling his thumbs waiting for Jesus to come; he presses into his personal calling with vigour and seeks to fulfil it to the littlest instruction.

There’s a prize waiting for you but you won’t get it just by being born again. If anyone received their prize, it wouldn’t be because they had a high calling; it would be because they pressed into the mark and attained it.

I have often told people who get excited about wealthy men and women that it is too early to know who is rich or poor. Paul tells us to judge nothing before the time. (1Corinthians 4:5).

A time is coming when your works in the Kingdom will be rewarded. There’s a system God has fashioned to rate people by. We may not know the formula, but we know by the Word of God that those who reach and fulfil the high calling they have been given will receive the prize. Then shall we know who is poor and who is rich.

That is why we must all reject a life of spiritual indolence and embrace a life of work.

Jesus told a parable about a wealthy master who traveled on a business trip. He told his servants after giving them money to trade with, “Get busy till I come.” (Luke 19:12-13).

We are the servants. We’ve been given the talents (or the money gifts) to trade with. In that parable, two of the three servants pressed towards the mark of their high calling and reached it. They were rewarded. The third buried his own talent and got condemned by the Lord.

Paul said he wasn’t endowed with some special grace that was greater than what was given to the other apostles. In fact, he was disadvantaged.

1Corinthians 15:9-10 KJ2000
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

You see! He started out as the least of them all. He was the runt of the litter. He barely survived childbirth, as it were. But he used the grace of God in his life more than the others used theirs. He ‘labored more abundantly than they all.’

That was the secret of his success, and that is why he will get the prize.

Paul could say at the end:

2Tinothy 4:7-8 KJ2000
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

That isn’t the language of a lazy Believer.

He pressed. He attained.

I’m writing this to shake up those who are sleeping. Eternity is drawing closer, one day at a time. The day of reward is drawing near. Get to work!

Soon, those earthly things that many are pursuing won’t matter anymore. But before then, let us avoid distractions and focus on our purpose for being here.

May you be found worthy to receive the high prize!

Have a glorious day.

Your friend,
Deon.

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