The Great Motive
“Pressing on, not to attain, but to discover what’s already been given.”
Paul’s words in Philippians 3:12 reveal the burning desire that fueled his life: to lay hold of all that Christ had in mind when He first laid hold of Paul. This wasn’t a statement of dissatisfaction with Christ but of a heart awakened to deeper fellowship and purpose. Paul had tasted the richness of knowing Christ and longed to experience more of Him—not only the power of resurrection but also the fellowship found in suffering. His great motive was not to attain perfection but to allow Christ to fully express His purpose through him.
Ray Stedman reminds us that Paul’s drive was deeply personal. The apostle viewed himself as Christ’s chosen instrument—set apart to carry His name before the world. The Damascus road encounter was not just the start of Paul’s conversion; it was the beginning of a journey of discovery, of uncovering the reason Christ took hold of his life. This is what motivated Paul’s pressing on—not to gain more salvation or to earn favor, but to experience and express the fullness of the life he had already been given in Christ.
This is the same motive offered to each of us: not just a calling to believe, but an invitation to discover the unique part of Christ’s work He desires to express through our lives. It’s not striving, it’s surrender. It’s not ambition, it’s availability. And it's all fueled by the power of the indwelling Christ.
Journal Entry – In the Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You were not rescued just to be preserved—you were embraced so that My Son could be expressed through you. Before time began, I prepared good works for you to walk in, not as burdens but as natural expressions of the new creation you are. Christ in you is not a distant ideal; He is the present power and purpose flowing from your spirit, guiding your thoughts, forming your words, and compelling your steps.
So press on, not to gain what is already yours, but to experience it more fully. Let your gaze stay fixed on Jesus, for in Him you discover not only who you are but why you are. He is your purpose. He is the reason you live. And in your union with Him, every day is an unfolding of the reason He laid hold of you.
You are His workmanship. You were created in Christ Jesus to reflect His grace, to carry His presence into moments no one else will walk through in the same way. You are not walking a path toward significance—you are walking in significance. And the pressing on? That’s just the rhythm of letting Me reveal more of what’s already true: you are My beloved, indwelt by Christ, and destined to manifest His life through yours.
Scripture References: Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 3:12–14, 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
Prayer
Father, thank You for laying hold of me with purpose and love beyond my understanding. I trust You to express through me all that You intended when You joined me to Christ. I have no need to earn or perform—I simply walk with You in this present moment, letting Your Spirit live through me. I rejoice that Your plans are already unfolding in me. I am Yours.
Devotional insights adapted from “Immeasurably More” by Ray Stedman
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