Clear Vision

So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything 
God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, 
something less than total commitment, God will 
clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! 
Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. 

~ Philippians 3:15-16 ~

I've never been much of a goal setter.

So when I read these verses in Philippians about keeping focused on the goal, I always feel a little uncomfortable.

I got too focused on the fact that I am not good at setting goals in my own life, so then I would start to feel inadequate, like I was not very spiritual because I have a hard time with goals.

But I'm realizing something.

I don't have to figure out what the goal is. This goal has already been established. I just need to make sure that I continue heading towards it.

Because the goal is not an it, it's a Him.

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, 
experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, 
and go all the way with him to death itself. 
If there was any way to get in on the resurrection 
from the dead, I wanted to do it. 

~ Philippians 3:10-11

Jesus is my goal. 

Knowing Him, experiencing His power, partnering with Him in His suffering and going all the way to death with Him. To be raised by His resurrection power.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. 
But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, 
who has so wondrously reached out for me. 
Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I 
count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye 
on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. 
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

~ Philippians 3:12-14

Knowing what my goal is is vital.

Steering clear of what will hinder me from my goal or turn me away onto another path is also vital. 

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running 
this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there 
taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you 
to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; 
sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. 
They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. 
Those who live there make their bellies their gods; 
belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

~ Phillipians 3:17-19 ~

There is so much that can distract me from reaching my goal of knowing Christ. So many "good" things. So many not so good things. 

Steer clear of the barking dogs, 
those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. 
All they're interested in is appearances—
knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. 
The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God 
leads to work away at this ministry, 
filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. 
We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, 
and we know it—even though we can list 
what many might think are impressive credentials.

~ Philippians 3:2-5 ~

I love what it says in verse 15:

If any of you have something else in mind, 
something less than total commitment, 
God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet!

I am so weak. I do not think I can say that I have ever been totally committed to reaching the Goal. But God's Word says that God Himself will clear my blurred vision! Oh I pray that He does. 

I can rely on God at work in me to give me the desire, the energy and the power to reach the Goal. Oh, I am so thankful this is true!

Be energetic in your life of salvation, 
reverent and sensitive before God. 
That energy is God's energy, 
an energy deep within you, 
God himself willing and working 
at what will give him the most pleasure.

~ Philippians 2:13 ~

Oh, Father, please help me to keep going forward towards the Goal of knowing Jesus, of experiencing His power, of participating in His suffering and dying to myself. Thank you that you do not leave me to work this out on my own. Please clear my vision, help me to see where I am being distracted or even veering off the right path. Be at work in me.

God can do anything, you know—
far more than you could ever imagine 
or guess or request in your wildest dreams! 
He does it not by pushing us around 
but by working within us, 
his Spirit deeply and gently within us. 

~ Ephesians 3: 20 ~