January 1 Philippians 3:12-14 Press On

Philippians 3:12-14 “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. 13 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, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 
 
MANY people love this passage, and I hope you do, too. Why? First, the apostle Paul, who is writing this from his prison house in Rome, puts his past in the past. Second, it’s good to see Paul’s passionate desire to follow his Lord as far as he can, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Jesus clearly calls his disciples to such a "pressing on" following. Note how Jesus’ simple three-word command, “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4:19) engages you to decide: “Am I with Jesus or not? Do I stay back or go forward?” Imagine Peter, Andrew, James and John standing at their boats looking back to what they had done all their lives and planned to do for the rest of their lives. Suddenly, they were confronted with a new future into an unknown journey with an unknown rabbi. Yet, compelled by the Christ they followed. In faith they pressed on. They put their past in the past to press forward with the Lord of Heaven and earth.
   Paul and those first disciples fully came face-to-face with Jesus to know he is the Son of Yahweh, the Provider, the Great I Am – eternal, self-existent God! They followed him to the edge of faith – and then they pressed on to follow Him further! Truly they knew Jesus is “the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. (John 11:25) And they could surely answer, “Yes!” to his question, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
   To these men the past became obsolete as Jesus pointed them and all creation to the future.
   Do you wonder, “What’s next?” Are you perhaps overcome with negative news? Might you have some personal challenges that seem unending? I encourage you to look to Jesus and look ahead.
   Be reminded of Abraham called out his home to a faraway country, Moses directed to free his people from mighty Egypt and David before Goliath and Mary bearing the Messiah. God filled these people with faith. None were perfect. They made mistakes. But – to paraphrase verse 13 - they forgot those things which were behind them and followed God to glory.
   This, too, is our call. Press on with Jesus. Press on in joy. The Lord has said to you, “Follow me.”   
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for calling me to follow Jesus forward. In the Spirit’s power, I pray for faith and joy in you. Amen.