Deuteronomy 1:6-8
This scripture shows that the Lord has set a land before the children of Israel, all they have to do is to go in and posses. This is God’s instruction to them. And this instructions was based on the fact that there is much more God has prepared for them and it looks more like they have settled in a particular place.
The land has been set before them but if they stay in Horeb, they will not posses and not because he has not given it to them but because they refuse to go in. As far as God is concerned, that land has been given to them.
At some point in life, we get to a point where we are so used to what God is doing or what God has done, and we are not paying attention to what he wants to do and at those point, we get settled.
Isaiah 54:2-3 also show us the instructions that God gave to expand. The instruction was to grow their capacity because of what is ahead. The instruction was to enlarge, stretch, don’t spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes because you will expand.
Philipians 3:10-16 shows us that Paul has walked with the Lord, he has been involved in the work of ministry and also experienced some measure of growth, understanding and revelation to be able to say what he said at that point. This scripture is a product of a man who has learnt or who is learning and has come to a point of understanding and a height of revelations.
“That I may know him” wasn’t talking about salvation, it is a burden. It was Paul crying out of a place of recognition of an expansion in view.
Verse 13 explains that there is something behind and something ahead. And you can’t stay behind and get to the place where God has ordained, desired and has expectations for you to get to.
Paul knews that Jesus has an expectation over his life. Advancements is not from a place of desperation or comparison. It is out of a sense of fulfilment for the plans and purposes of God. It is from a place of personal growth. Redemption is the basis. The only reason you should do better is that when you see Jesus, he will tell you that the reason why he saved you, the reason why he lay hold on you is for you to lay hold on all that he died for.
As an individual, we need to check our life if we are advancing as we should in all aspect of our life. We also need to check if we are fulfilling the plan and purposes of God for our life, to be all that redemption expect us to be.