Thursday, March 18, 2004

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
(Philippians 3.12 NRSV)

---

Peter Goodwin was a lover of horses. Uncle Peter, as he was called by his friends, was once given the opportunity to select a colt from a herd of two-year-olds. Uncle Peter chose a somewhat ordinary looking colt named Bluegrass. No one else saw the potential in this young horse that Uncle Peter saw. "He will never run in the Kentucky Derby," his friends laughingly told Uncle Peter. But they were wrong. "Bluegrass" not only ran in the Kentucky Derby, but won! When Uncle Peter was asked why he chose that particular colt, he replied that it was because the colt had "the look of eagles in his eye."

The look of eagles . . . I wonder if St. Paul had the look of eagles in his eyes? Here was a man who was converted to the faith after being one of its harshest critics and most intense persecutors. Here was a man who spent much of his ministry in chains as a prisoner. Here was a man who had an affliction which some scholars think was epilepsy, but he called simply, his thorn in the flesh. And yet, in spite of all the strikes against him, St. Paul may be the second most important man who ever lived second only to Jesus.

What was his secret? What was it that put the look of eagles in Paul's eyes? Verses 13 and 14 sum up Paul's approach to life. Paul writes, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

---

Dear God, help me to reach the goal of your call to me in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

---

Help Promote Devotions.Net | Past Devotions

---

| Home | Bible | Devotions | Humor | Visitors | Links |