Devotionals

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Pressing Forward
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. 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.
(Philippians 3:12-14, New King James Version)

December the 31st is a day we set aside for late night parties. We jubilantly celebrate the passing of the old year and embrace the beginning of a new year. We will pause to remember the good things of the past year, lament the bad things we have seen and cast a hopeful eye to the future of the coming year. New Year's day is when many of us will resolve to lose the weight we gained during the excess of the holiday season, we will resolve to make things different in this new year, we will make plans to do something we have never done before, or resolve to stop doing some of the things we have done in the past. New Year's day is a celebration of new beginnings, when anything is possible in our minds, it is a new page that has not yet been written, a clean slate, a blank canvas. Unfortunately, no matter how good our intentions, most of us never really make the changes that we propose on New Years day. Matter of fact, most New Year's resolutions are broken within the first week of the year and by the end of the month of January, most of us are continuing the old patterns we have always practiced.

The Apostle Paul, when writing to the church at Philippe, wrote that although he could boast in his own accomplishments in who he was and how he was raised, that he was of the stock of Israel, a Hebrew of Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, Zealous in that he persecuted the Church, and blameless under the law, that he counted all these things as rubbish in light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his pursuit of the righteousness of Christ.

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11, New King James Version)

Paul was constantly making a new assessment of his life in light of who Jesus Christ is, he was constantly striving to attain a greater love and understanding of who Jesus Christ is and to make him known to everyone with whom he came in contact. Paul states in other passages that he beat his body into submission so that he could attain the prize before him. He never forgot who he was (a great sinner saved by Grace) and who Jesus is, the Son of God, worthy of all Praise. Paul never rested on his laurels or his past accomplishments, he was always looking forward to the prize of the call that was placed on his life to preach the gospel.

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. 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. (Philippians 3:12-14, New King James Version)

Paul encouraged the believers to be of the same mind; to also press forward to the goal of being all that Jesus desired them to be and to follow the example he set for them.

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. (Philippians 3:15-17, New King James Version)

Paul encourages believers to remember that we are just passing through here on this earth, that our ultimate destination is Heaven and to live with Jesus forever. We are to remember that we are Citizens of Heaven; Ambassadors of Jesus Christ, representing our King to the people we meet and we are to act accordingly. We should therefore, conduct ourselves in holiness and righteousness as Jesus would have us live and not be conformed to the pattern of this world.

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:18-21, New King James Version)

As we go forward into the coming year, we would do well to remember that we do not go alone. The Lord Jesus promised that he would go with us. You do not have to wait for New Year's day to resolve to change things or to turn over a new leaf, you can at anytime come to Jesus and repent of your sin and become a new creature.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, New King James Version)

Are you tired of making New Year's resolutions and never really changing your behavior? Are you tired of wanting to change things but finding that no matter how hard you try, you are just unable to make the changes you want to make in your life? Do you feel that something is missing and you are trying to fill that void with anything and everything but nothing seems to help? Come to Jesus, he is the answer to your inner longings. He will make you over into a new creation, he will take the tattered ends of your life, comfort you in the midst of your trials and make you over in his likeness. Today is the day of Salvation. Will you come to Him now? He is waiting with open arms.

Let us pray:
My gracious and most precious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your loving kindness toward me that is renewed every morning. I thank you for your tender mercies. Lord right now as best I know how, I admit to you that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I cannot change my life on my own. I repent of my sin and I place my faith in you Lord Jesus. Please save me, please rescue me from the sin that so easily besets me. Please help me to live for you and make me into a new person, in the likeness of Jesus. Thank you for hearing my prayer and for saving my soul. I humbly give you all that I am and ask that you help me walk before you in your righteousness. In Jesus Name, Amen

Today's Scripture:
Philippians Chapter 3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3+&version=NKJV&src=embed

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