Another Resolution?
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New Years
New Years
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Every year at this time we try to take inventory of the past and et new goals for the future
This has both positive and negative effect!
For the over achiever is could mean condemnation for not getting enough done!
For the under achiever it means another year disappointment
For the rest of us it can be a reminder of the goals we set last year never materialized
So what’s a person to do?
Paul give us the answer to this dilemma in verse 12
Philippians 3:12 (NKJV)
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
And in Verse 13
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
His encouragement is to “press on”
The word Press on here is the Greek word meaning to “set in rapid motion” or “to journey, ride, or march”
Now, many of us travel great distances and know the frustration of taking too much baggage on the airplane!
Sometimes I just sit a wonder of the person trying to squeeze their suitcase, carry on, duty free, stuffed animals and guitar into the overhead locker! Didn’t they read the sign that directed them to 2 items of a certain size and weight?
I must admit that early in my travel days I was taking some crazy things in my carry on which just weighted me down on the long-hauls between terminals and trying to remember if I had anything as I was heading to the next flight!
The older I got the more I realized that I didn’t need all of that stuff and that it was causing me unneeded frustration.
Now in the spiritual realm it is exactly the same way
Many times we are carrying weights that belong at the foot of the cross and they are tiring us out!
Jesus told us
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
You see Paul is writing from prison with every reason to think that he had failed but he simply presses on to the goal! What goal?
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
He is not concerned with earthly goals and matters, what is important is that he reach the goal to which Christ has called him! What was that goal?
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
So #1 Keep your eyes fixed on the author and finisher of your life!
THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,
Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.
Do you see it? LOOKING AWAY from all that will distract to JESUS!
#2 PRESS ON!
Whenever there is a challenge facing you, you must learn how to press on. The writer uses the analogy of a race to show that we are constantly striving toward our goal.
When a runner starts out on the course, he doesn’t carry any unnecessary clothing or baggage. Because the excess weight will slow him down. He doesn’t run constantly looking behind him, because in doing so, he cannot see what dangers may lay in front of him.
No matter how long the race, he doesn’t give up, he doesn’t look back, but he keeps on running, keeps on pressing, keeps on striving, because his goal is to cross the finish line.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
#3 Leave it at the cross!
The best thing about Christianity is the reality that God is the one who carries our burdens if we leave them at the cross!
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
True rest is only found in the great exchange of Calvary’s cross!
In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night.
My friend, this earthly life will always deliver more and more burdens for you to carry. It will deliver more guilt trips that you can never afford to take!
Hebrews tells us that the people failed to enter GOd’s rest because they didn’t exercise faith with their life!
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
The writer here is talking about those who hear the Gospel of grace but continued to trust in works! bBut it stands to reason that faith must be applied to all the Scripture we hear!
My friends, 2022 is knocking at the door and will be upon us and gone as fast as it came
What will you make of this year?
Will you spend it in fear and anxiety or will you press on to the high calling of Christ in your life?
The decisions yours!
Remember that
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
Let’s pray