Pressing Forward to God’s Best
Attribution: This post draws inspiration from A.B. Simpson’s Days of Heaven on Earth devotional, reflecting on its timeless encouragement.
As believers, our lives are not meant to settle for mediocrity or mere adequacy. The call of God on our lives is not just to avoid falling away but to press forward toward His highest and best. Hebrews 12:15 urges us to look diligently, lest we fall short of His grace. This isn’t about losing salvation; it’s about failing to embrace the fullness of God’s purposes for our lives.
More Than Just Getting By
A common pitfall for many believers is to stop at “good enough.” We may think that as long as we avoid sin and attend church regularly, we’ve done our duty. But God’s invitation is far greater—it’s an invitation to live a life that fully reflects His glory and fulfills His unique calling for each of us.
A.B. Simpson uses the metaphor of hot water versus steam. Water that is almost boiling is powerless compared to water that has reached its full potential as steam, which can drive engines and accomplish great things. Similarly, we are called to go beyond the “almost” in our spiritual lives, pressing into the abundant life that Jesus promised (John 10:10).
God’s Highest Choice
In a world that offers many "good" things, it is easy to settle for what is comfortable, safe, or merely acceptable. However, Scripture continually points us toward striving for God’s best. The apostle Paul often speaks of running the race with endurance, fixing our eyes on the prize (Philippians 3:14). This race is not about earning salvation, which is a gift of grace, but about pursuing the full measure of the life God intends for us—marked by fruitfulness, joy, and eternal rewards.
A Life of Excellence
Excellence in the Christian life doesn’t mean perfection in our own strength. It means being fully yielded to God, allowing Him to work in and through us for His glory. It means saying "yes" to His highest calling and trusting Him to provide the strength and resources we need.
Simpson’s devotional reminds us that the reward for pursuing God’s best isn’t just the joy of knowing we’ve fulfilled His purpose. It’s also the longing to hear the words of our Master: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). This is not about earning approval but about living in a way that brings pleasure to the heart of our Father.
What Is Holding You Back?
The devotional challenges us to ask ourselves, “Am I holding back in my walk with God? Am I allowing distractions, fears, or complacency to keep me from His best?” God’s highest choice for us often involves stepping out in faith, enduring challenges, and trusting Him in the unknown.
The rewards of pressing into His purposes far outweigh the cost. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Closing Reflection
Thank You, Lord, for calling us to more than just an ordinary life. Your purposes are greater than anything we could imagine, and You have equipped us through Your Spirit to pursue them fully. May we run this race with endurance, always looking to You as our prize, and live each day as a reflection of Your best for us.