We Press On – Philippians 3:12-16

What is driving Paul isn't some sort of personal ambition, but rather a response to grace. Paul is striving to make these things his own because Christ Jesus first made him his own. Imagine if we had this type of mentality. Where we would pursue and chase the things of Christ. Not because we had to, but because of gratitude and love and knowing that we are his. [00:08:47] (26 seconds)  #gracefueledpursuit

If you find yourself ruminating on the shame of your past mistakes, your sins, your shortcomings, have you really surrendered those things to Christ? And when we find yourself stuck in that place, replaying those mistakes, who is at the center of the focus? It is not Jesus. Rather, it is you. When our gaze is fixed on the shame of our past failures, it cannot be fixed on Jesus. [00:10:15] (27 seconds)  #focusonJesus

If our experience of thinking about our lives is anything other than gratitude or love towards Jesus, I think it is important to take a step back and to reset. Paul understood this line of thinking and considered it to be mature if you thought this way. Instead of focusing on the past, we press forward. We press on to the prize that is Jesus. [00:10:42] (22 seconds)  #pressforwardinfaith

There is wisdom in learning from our past so we don't repeat those same mistakes in the future. But when we become fixated on the shame that came with that, we are no longer walking in freedom. But by pressing forward to Christ, we can learn to walk in that freedom. [00:11:06] (17 seconds)  #freedomthroughforward

Do not fall victim to this idea of complacency. It is easy to want to stay seated after failing. But if we do, we are accepting mediocrity. We aren't accepting God's good and perfect plan for our lives. Instead, stay focused and stay vigilant on the prize that is Jesus. [00:11:38] (20 seconds)  #rejectcomplacency

Paul is appealing to the Church of Philippi to be like an athlete when it comes to progressing towards Christ. Think of it like this. Sometimes we do need moments of rest. There's strategy in resting before a big competition or a big race. It also involves a healthy diet. Would be like the word of the Lord. You're engaging in scripture. You're being fed. Then, there are times of intense work. Such as when we serve our neighbors and the church. The whole Christian life should be Christ-directed. Training us in His way. That is what being a disciple is all about. [00:14:17] (38 seconds)  #disciplineddiscipleship

What if we as Christians ran our race with this type of focus? What if we ran with this idea that it is possible for us to lose? I believe it would make us run with reckless abandon towards the prize, which is Jesus. If there was a thought that we could possibly lose, we would be much more intentional in giving it our all. [00:15:30] (25 seconds)  #runwithrecklessfaith

Paul really drives a point home in his passage when he says that the wreath or the prize that these men and women are going to obtain is only a temporary one. It's going to perish. It is perishable along with the perceived glory from winning these races. I'm willing to bet that no one in this room can name an Olympic victor from around Paul's time. That glory is gone. But the crown that we receive, that crown that prized, will never perish. [00:19:04] (29 seconds)  #eternalreward

Christ is eternally victorious. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. And as if this wasn't enough, Christ is still in pursuit of us. And he's still racing towards us. Paul echoes the same victory. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. He has pressed forward to the prize. His journey, like Christ's, ends not in defeat, but in victorious fulfillment. Faithful to the very end. His eyes fixed on the imperishable crown that awaited him. And Jesus, eager to lay down the crown on his head. He shares in Christ's resurrection. And he can make it his own. Because Christ first made Paul his own. And that, friends, is worth pursuing with full effort until the very end. [00:23:09] (53 seconds)  #victoryinChrist

The past is the past. Instead, we press on towards the prize. That one day, you and I will be face to face with our Lord. And he will take his nail scarred hands and lay down the crown of righteousness on our heads. As we receive our prize for a race well run. [00:29:01] (20 seconds)