Advent 2020 (day 13 of 26)

December 11, 2020 (Friday)

 

Day 13 of 26, Advent 2020.

 

Christmas is a season of expectation. As we look back at Bethlehem we look forward to the New Jerusalem. If we truly expect to see Jesus, how are we going to live?

 

Paul had a suggestion in Philippians 3:14, “The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.” [CEB] In terms an athlete might use, the “goal” would have been the either the finish line or a particular result. Paul speaks of a “prize.” That prize is found in the “upward call in Christ Jesus.”

 

There is never a hint of the possibility of “sinless perfection” in the Bible. In fact, none other than Paul declared, “It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose.” [Philippians 3:12 CEB] Just because we have not reached this state of perfection does not mean we stop pursuing it. The goal is to become more like Jesus. It is the will of God for every believer (see Romans 8:29).

 

Sometimes, the best thing we can have is a bad memory. Paul advised, “Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me.” [Philippians 3:13 CEB] I know we cannot “forget,” at least the way God can forget. We have to move those memories of the past to a place where they do not personally or emotional continue to affect us.

 

The trouble with our past is it can either drive us or drag us down. Chances are neither of these are healthy for various reasons. Paul stated his strategy was to leave the past behind and “reach out for the things ahead of me.” There is a “Sunday School” song that sums up Paul’s strategy, “The world behind me, the cross before me; No turning back, no turning back.”

 

Here’s the snag in the strategy. Some of us are deliberate in challenging ourselves to greater service, closer relationship, and deeper dives into God’s presence. Before Wesley understood the gospel, he was part of a group call the “Holiness Club.” Their goal was to deliberately explore the depths of Christian discipleship. After his salvation, he used it as a model for the early “classes” where new believers would encourage each other to be deliberate in actively exploring Christian growth.

 

The reality is we are not all on the same level. Hopefully we are moving forward with the realization that sometimes we do lose ground. In a sense Paul says that’s okay, “Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.” [Philippians 3:16 CEB] Progress is progress, even if it looks and feels like a step backward. Sometimes we need to relearn something to reach greater heights.

 

Jesus has already been here, to bring salvation. Jesus will return, to set all wrongs right. Between now and then, imagine the blessings of progressing in your faith.