Pressing On!

"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." (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV).

When our end is near, our insight into the mysteries of life, are expressed with such clarity that it amazes and stuns people. Our lives should not be about obtaining things, but obtaining the goals in our hearts that God placed there, for the benefit of many. Paul knew it was time was just about up, but he also knew he could not hold onto all those things that he "had done" (not of Christ), but he looked forward to doing what God wanted him to do.

With this clarity, expressed by Paul, we can all take lessons about life. There are some things we must let go. Since we cannot go back in time and change anything, we must look forward to doing better so we will have no reason to regret anything. Even though Paul had persecuted the early Church, he did so out of ignorance and arrogance--ignorance of Jesus Christ and arrogance out his status and position with the religious leaders of The Law.

If we're willing to see ourselves truthfully, we'd have to admit that most of what we've done in the past--we did out of ignorance and arrogance--ignorance because we simply did not know and arrogance because we didn't want to listen to those who knew--Truth.

Let's not be ignorant or arrogant any longer. Let's look forward to learning something new every day and listening to those we respect who have demonstrated living their lives with the wisdom of God leading them. We don't know everything there is to know so there is room in our minds and hearts to receive wisdom and knowledge--especially from God--so we might be helpers of one another. Pressing on--in spite of the difficulties we face--will be our testimony to encourage others.

Don't get angry or depressed about making wrong decisions--seek The Lord and hear and obey and watch Him bless this year like never before in your lives.

Have a wonderfully, blessed New Year in 2015!