Pressing On in 2025!
"Brethren…..one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14
Celebrating the New Year is marked by a variety of exciting traditions like late night parties with friends and family and eating to your heart's content! And perhaps on the heels of that, we also feel compelled to make New Year's resolutions such as losing weight and exercising more! The truth is that most New Year’s resolutions are earnestly made but rarely carried out.
In Philippians 3:1-16, Paul declares his life resolution. Although he had an impressive resume of earthly accomplishments that were brag-worthy, he now had just one thing he was doggedly focused on: putting his past behind and pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
So, what was Paul's goal?
In the context of Philippians 3:1-16, Paul declares he wants "to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Paul also exhorted that we should "make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it" (2 Cor. 5:9). Knowing Christ intimately and pleasing Him was paramount. In Acts 20:24, Paul reiterated that the only thing that mattered to him was finishing the race and completing the task the Lord gave him--the task of testifying to the gospel.
In Pastor Bob's sermon on this text, he explained that pressing on means to pursue or to chase. It is used of one who runs swiftly in a race to reach the goal in order to obtain the prize. The verb is in the present tense meaning a continuous action which shows that this pursuit is to be the pattern of the believer’s life on a daily basis. The goal (mark) refers to a distant mark on which to fix the eye, the goal one has in view.
Simply put, our life's goal should be like Paul's--to know Christ, become like Him, serve and please Him wholeheartedly!
Becoming like Christ and serving Him is our goal, but it is neither easy nor natural. But, while impossible in the flesh, Christ can accomplish His purposes within us through the Holy Spirit as we obey Him.
How do we Press On?
We can run our race pressing on towards the goal of knowing Christ and making Him known by daily doing very practical things with the Holy Spirit's help:
· Love God
· Love Others
Family: Be a godly spouse, parent, live with integrity
Believers: pray, encourage, serve
Unbelievers: pray, share gospel, serve
· Make disciples
What do you need to put behind you? How do you need to press on this year? Let's determine to emulate Paul, putting our past behind (brag-worthy or not) and press on toward the goal of knowing Christ more intimately, becoming a little more like Him, and pleasing Him by loving others around us!