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Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

This past summer, on the fourth day of a heat wave, I went to an orchard. A few feet away from where I parked my car, I walked past three women. I couldn’t help but notice the yellow peaches in their baskets. My excitement about picking peaches grew.

Walking through the rows of peach trees I realized something. The peaches that I could pick without any effort were all green. The peaches on much higher branches were bright hues of yellow.

I had two choices. Pick green peaches. Or reach up to get ripe ones. I started to think of all of the reasons why picking ripe peaches was out of the question. No need to guess what I did. I picked green peaches and left the orchard.

There is a phrase called “low hanging fruit”. It has more than one meaning. The one that stands out to me the most is that low hanging fruit refers to things that can be easily achieved.

I admit that some of the things I am called to do as a believer can be achieved without much effort. For example, I find it quite easy to smile and offer a kind word to brighten someone’s day. But there are other things that I am called to do that require much greater effort to achieve. I have to stretch. Just like those three women at the orchard who had to reach up high for the ripe peaches.

In Philippians 3:14 the Apostle Paul tells us: I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

That day at the orchard, I did not do what Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:14. Even though I wanted ripe peaches, I did not press to get them. My actions that day was a reminder of how I often take the easy way out in my spiritual walk. For example, I would talk about how I wanted to pray more. Or read the Bible more. Yet, I did not set aside the time to do either of them with any consistency.

Living for Christ will require that I press. For example, it will require that I trust God even when I cannot see Him at work.

Proverbs 3:5 says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.

Living for Christ will also require that, despite a busy schedule, I spend quality time with the Lord so that I can pursue greater intimacy and fellowship with Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 says: And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I accept that there is no greater call than doing what God has called me to do. However, the road to fulfilling the call will not always be easy. It will require effort. So, here is the key. I must set my eyes on Christ Jesus. As I follow Him, I can press despite the challenges. I can press despite the personal sacrifice. I can press despite the pull to turn back. In this moment I am reminded of Galatians 6:9 that says: And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.