Keep Moving

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:14 (NLT)

Our current home is situated in such a way that we are on a hill which overlooks our neighbors’ backyards. When we are on the east side of our house, we can look down upon our fellow subdivision dwellers. Both neighbors are friendly enough, so it’s not a creepy thing. (I swear!) A few weeks ago, one of those neighbors bought and setup an above ground swimming pool. He has a young family, so this would be a great way to cool off on those hot summer days. For the first few days they had the pool, it was non-stop usage. Everyone was having a good time. The water was cool, and the games were fun.

But, vacations come to an end, and parents go back to work. The pool sat mostly unused, neglected. As the hours creeped into days, the color of the water began to slowly turn from crystal blue to a brownish color, and then to a deep green. The water had become funky. The kids, hoping to go swimming on Sunday ran out to the pool, only to be greeted by the new normal. The pool had grown so much algae that it was no longer usable. The dad came out to investigate and has subsequently drained the pool. The kids were bummed, to say the least.

It’s a couple of things that make water develop issues with algae. When the ph levels of the water get out of whack, and there isn’t enough circulation the water becomes stagnant, and algae begins to bloom. In other words, water that doesn’t move becomes toxic.

When it comes to our spiritual lives, sitting sedentary as a Christian will also lead to stagnation. You see, our life as a Christian isn’t about sitting still once per week, it’s about being in motion for the Kingdom of God. As the apostle Paul put it in our verse today, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” His words “press on” means to keep moving. In our faith, when we stop serving, stop giving, stop loving, stop forgiving, stop living a life for Jesus and for others, our life stagnates, and spiritually, we begin to die.

Family, if you don’t give, demonstrate love, offer forgiveness, and all the other stuff Jesus calls us to do, your spiritual life is dying. Get moving. Circulate the good news of the Kingdom of God. Serve. Give. Love. Proclaim.