Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
How beneficial it is to have a goal for life! Some people have a vision of great wealth. Some have a vision of reputation in social achievements. Some seek recognition in degrees or in contributions to their particular work area. We all need a vision of some kind. We need something that will challenge us and bring out the best in us. Like us, the apostle Paul had a goal. Paul was a gifted leader. He had a list of qualifications that any Pharisee would admire. He had zeal and passion for his work. But in this verse he tells us what his chief goal was—to reach the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. This is not a trophy that can be set on a shelf. It is not a treasure in a bank vault. It is not an inheritance that can be passed on to our heirs after death. This is a personal goal between the individual and the God he wants to please. Paul calls it a high calling—a worthwhile, lofty, noble cause, one that stands above all others. What can be a higher goal than to hear the one you adore say “Well done, though good and faithful servant”? This is the calling that fulfills the deepest desires of the heart. It is the prize that satisfies the inner, spiritual man. What calling am I pursuing today?
Dalbert Walker