Pressing On

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  ...Indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  ...One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - from Philippians 3

Pressing on.

To what?

Was Paul pressing on to get another church planted?  To get more Timothys trained?  To preach the gospel in more cities?

Or was he pressing on...to simply know Christ?

I was reflecting on that this week, as it relates to me.  What am I supposed to be pressing on towards?  Finishing French?  Learning the culture?  Seeing a church planted?  Some other sort of ministry?

Or is there just one thing I need to pursue, one thing I need to be consumed with in this life?

In the grand scheme of things, French is not my goal.

Neither is understanding this culture.

Nor being involved in the work of planting churches.

The goal God has given us is simply to know Christ.  May we always remember that and keep everything else secondary.  May we be faithful in the things He has given us to do today, remembering that they are not the ultimate objective.  May we never give up the amazing privilege of knowing Him better because we're busy in ministry.

Press on.  He alone is a goal worthwhile.