Philippians 3:12-14, 12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (EVS)
Philippians 3:12-14, 12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. (The Message)
So many times in our daily lives we can get so "beaten down" by the cares of this life that we don't put things into proper perspective. We realize that money may be low or that life just hasn't turned out like we expected it to that day, and we tend to get to the place where we put our focus on the NOW.
Paul seem to be telling us that life can throw curve balls at us, things won't happen the way we think they will or the way we want them to. Yet Paul's message is simple; I'm not where I need or want to be, so I keep on going. Paul gives us the "mission" or "vision" statement of his life's journey, "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lie ahead."
The longer you live the more you realize that you have multiple "needs" conflicting in your life, and if you don't watch out life has a way of running over you. Paul lets us know really quick that he "hasn't made it" nor does he "have this all together", but he makes a profound statement about what all his life has become; "This one thing I do!" As an adult I have many different things that compete for my attention. My responsiblity as a husband, father, pastor, communicator, son, and friend can pull me in all kinds of different directions. Not to mention when I want to make time for stuff that I want to do and don't have to do like; golf, football, basketball, softball, reading, and watching the next sifi movie. I can get so bogged down that I don't know if I'm coming or going and which direction I'm going in.
Paul makes life simple, nothing else matters in this life but Jesus. WOW!!! I mean really, how easy is that! There are moments in everyday where I have to take the time and tell myself that I'm here on this earth to serve one ultimate purpose, to love God and to make Him known. The truth is if I don't make my life about THE ONE THING then life becomes chaos and pointless. How "pulled" are you? How many different hats do you wear? How many different things do you have on your list for today? Does life seem harder than it did yesterday?
If your answer to alot of these questions are yes and a lot, then take time right now to properly put those things in order. It's the ONE THING(Christ), then it's everything else. Instead of making life crazier, lets make it simpler!
Blessings,
Pastor Jason