Excelsior! 精益求精！

[Dexu Xia]

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

Sometimes surprisingly spiritual messages turn up in unexpected places, like in a comic book, for example. Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee passed away in 2018, leaving behind a legacy of such iconic heroes as Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, and many others.  The famously smiling man with sunglasses had a personal catchphrase that he used to sign off in monthly columns in Marvel comics for decades—the word excelsior. In a 2010 tweet, Lee explained its meaning: “ ‘Upward and onward to greater glory!’ That’s what I wish you whenever I finish tweeting! Excelsior!”

I like that. Whether Stan Lee realized it or not, his use of this unusual catchphrase certainly resonates with what Paul wrote in Philippians as he admonished believers to look not behind but ahead—and up: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14 esv).

We can easily become entangled in regrets or second-guessing past decisions. But in Christ, we’re invited to relinquish regrets and to press upward and onward to God’s greater glory through embracing the forgiveness and purpose He so graciously gives us! Excelsior!  By:  Adam R. Holz

Why do you tend to look forward or backward in your life and in your faith? How can you let go of past mistakes and move forward?

Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiveness. Thank You that You invite me to move forward, upward, and onward for Your glory. 

向着标竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。腓立比书3章14节

有时，属灵信息会意外地出现在完全料想不到之处，比如出现在漫画书里。漫威漫画的出版者史丹·李（Stan Lee）在2018年过世，留给世人许多他所创造的超级英雄，像蜘蛛人、钢铁人、神奇四侠、浩克和其他许多英雄人物。

这位挂着笑容、戴着墨镜的著名漫画家有一句名言，在他连载数十年的漫威漫画的每月专栏上，他都会写上精益求精（excelsior）。他在2010年的一则推特贴文上解释了它的含义：“‘奋力向上、勇往直前，追求更大的荣耀！’这就是我每次发布贴文时，对你们的勉励。精益求精！”

我喜欢这个做法。无论史丹·李有没有发现，他使用这句特别的名言，都呼应了保罗在腓立比书所做的论述。保罗劝告信徒不要向后看，而是要往前、往上看。保罗说：“我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向着标竿直跑，要得上帝在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。”（3章13-14节）

我们很容易陷入后悔或质疑过去的决定。但在基督里，我们可以领受上帝赐下的饶恕和生命的意义，放下遗憾，奋力向上、勇往直前，使上帝得到更大的荣耀。精益求精！作者：  何安德

你在生命和信仰中，为何会常常向前或向后看？
你如何放下过去的错误，继续勇往直前？

天父，感谢祢赦免我。感谢祢让我能为着祢的荣耀，奋勇向上、向前迈进、毫不退缩