Pressing On
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

The day after Christmas can feel like one big letdown.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:10-14‬‬
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What we need most is a ‘divine reset’.
As our outlook shifts, so does our goal. Our ultimate direction is directly impacted by our day-to-day perspective.

We must acknowledge the ‘not yet’ reality of life here on earth (verse 13).
-No matter how much we long for good things, exciting things, fulfillment, wholeness, and completeness, we are living in a reality where it will always be “not yet”.
-We shouldn’t be totally shocked by the disappointment we feel. It’s actually to be expected.
-We also see the hope in these words. Paul didn’t say “I will not”, but rather “not yet”.
-It will happen, it will come pass, it will be completed. It’s “not yet” but it is coming.

“I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (verse 14)
-Paul says this is the one thing. As we shift our perspective, we become focused on this one thing: pressing on.
-And what is the goal? To win the prize. And what is the prize? Heaven.
-I am pressing on in spite of opposition, in spite of difficulty, in spite of disappointment. Why? Because this kingdom is not my home.

‭‭John‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

-Jesus doesn’t just tell us not to let our heart be troubled, He gives us a very specific reason why not.
-Why not? Because He is preparing a place. A place to experience His fullness & His peace.
-If Paul speaks of the “not yet” reality of life on earth, then Jesus is speaking of the final fulfillment of that longing.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬‬
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Other verses for study/reflection:
-2 Corinthians 5:17
-Luke 9:62
-1 Corinthians 9:24
-Genesis 19:26
-Hebrews 12:1-2

Pressing On
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

The day after Christmas can feel like one big letdown.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:10-14‬‬
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

What we need most is a ‘divine reset’.
As our outlook shifts, so does our goal. Our ultimate direction is directly impacted by our day-to-day perspective.

We must acknowledge the ‘not yet’ reality of life here on earth (verse 13).
-No matter how much we long for good things, exciting things, fulfillment, wholeness, and completeness, we are living in a reality where it will always be “not yet”.
-We shouldn’t be totally shocked by the disappointment we feel. It’s actually to be expected.
-We also see the hope in these words. Paul didn’t say “I will not”, but rather “not yet”.
-It will happen, it will come pass, it will be completed. It’s “not yet” but it is coming.

“I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (verse 14)
-Paul says this is the one thing. As we shift our perspective, we become focused on this one thing: pressing on.
-And what is the goal? To win the prize. And what is the prize? Heaven.
-I am pressing on in spite of opposition, in spite of difficulty, in spite of disappointment. Why? Because this kingdom is not my home.

‭‭John‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

-Jesus doesn’t just tell us not to let our heart be troubled, He gives us a very specific reason why not.
-Why not? Because He is preparing a place. A place to experience His fullness & His peace.
-If Paul speaks of the “not yet” reality of life on earth, then Jesus is speaking of the final fulfillment of that longing.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬‬
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Other verses for study/reflection:
-2 Corinthians 5:17
-Luke 9:62
-1 Corinthians 9:24
-Genesis 19:26
-Hebrews 12:1-2

Newborn King: No Room
Two thousand years ago there was no room for the Savior. Can the same be said of us today?

When it comes to your heart, where is Jesus this Christmas Eve?
Safe at home? Or out back in a shed somewhere?

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:1-6‬‬
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

With everything else God arranged for the birth of the Savior of the world –
-generations of prophecies promising His arrival
-the angels carrying out missions
-the magi searching the sky
-Mary’s pregnancy
-Joseph’s dream
Why couldn’t/didn’t God arrange for a place for Jesus to be born?

The fact is, God did arrange a place…a manger.
God did arrange the first rejection of the Savior just before His birth. And a visible reminder of the rejection that would happen again and again, even today.

Do you have room today for Jesus?

“In the Bleak Midwinter”
by Christina Rossetti

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

http://bible.com/events/48817119

Newborn King: No Room
Two thousand years ago there was no room for the Savior. Can the same be said of us today?

When it comes to your heart, where is Jesus this Christmas Eve?
Safe at home? Or out back in a shed somewhere?

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:1-6‬‬
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

With everything else God arranged for the birth of the Savior of the world –
-generations of prophecies promising His arrival
-the angels carrying out missions
-the magi searching the sky
-Mary’s pregnancy
-Joseph’s dream
Why couldn’t/didn’t God arrange for a place for Jesus to be born?

The fact is, God did arrange a place…a manger.
God did arrange the first rejection of the Savior just before His birth. And a visible reminder of the rejection that would happen again and again, even today.

Do you have room today for Jesus?

“In the Bleak Midwinter”
by Christina Rossetti

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

http://bible.com/events/48815635

Newborn King: Ruler-Shepherd
The all-powerful king is the all-compassionate king.

The all-powerful king is the all-compassionate king.

‭‭John‬ ‭10:7-11‬‬
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus is painting a specific picture here:
-A picture of power – “I Am”
-A picture of compassion – the gate for the sheep, the good shepherd
-He promises safety. He promises pasture. Unlike others who have come before, He promises to care for the sheep.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2:6‬‬
“ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Why does this matter to you?
Because our king is both all-powerful and all-compassionate, I am not my own and I am not on my own.

The shepherd desires to be your king
-And what do we do in response to to the one who gave His life for us? He is either king of all or He is not king at all.
-Many of us are living as though we can call Him king, but live as if I am king.

This king desires to be your shepherd
-The truth is: we all need a shepherd. None of us, on our own, is truly capable of leading and guiding our own lives.
-The powerful truth of Christmas is that you are not on your own.