Forget and Reach

Praise Reports:

• Katherine is recovering well from hip surgery.
• Sharon had a flat tire and got to church anyway ("...in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!" 1 Thessalonians 5:18). She has also gotten a job!
• We all had some wonderful Christmas celebrations.
• The Rogerses had a great trip to Tennessee.
• The doctors say that Shirley's shoulder is completely knitted together!
• Sandy got a welcome call from her relatives, Joseph and Christa, from Germany.
• Nelson Gabbard, a friend of David and Shirley’s in California, has suffered from a debilitating neurological disease for many years, never complaining, being a great encourager to all. When his wife, Bonnie, died of cancer five years ago, Nelson remained the same, but just wanted to go home to Jesus. Nelson was recently diagnosed with cancer, and he's not taking any treatment or medication; we know he’s thanking God. 

Prayer Requests:

• Augustins—traveling home from Florida
• David and Shirley---traveling to California for a week
• Dwayne—hurt one arm trying to lift a motorcycle, then hurt the other shoulder trying to lift Byron. He is healing fairly well, please pray for a full recovery
• Greg—healing in mouth and relief from pain
• Jimmy and Lori Rogers—may the Spirit minister to their hearts, fill them with love and power, faith and hope
• John and Hannah and kids—protection and provision, employment for John
• Katherine's aunt Dixie--her vertebrae was injured in a car accident and it is not healing; an operation may be needed and she is apprehensive about it; she is a servant who is not used to being served
• Mary—transferred to Concordia Rehab Center, Room 142. It will take a miracle to be released. Please take some time to visit her, and drop by Rita and Charlotte Augustins’ rooms as well. Mary loves cards!
• Sandra and John—peace and understanding
• The Rogers family—healing and protection from colds
• Vernon and Nellie—traveling to Florida 
• Vivian—strength to care for those she loves

Keep these people in your prayers:

• Matt Sales, Brandy and Brayden
• Robin Fine
• Danny and Ruby
• Christy
• Sharon's grandchildren
• Levi
• Christin and James
• Pam
• Erika
• Bessie, Elmer Lee, Gayle, and Lynda
• James and Denisha and family
• Rebecca Allen
• Katherine's parents
• Warren and Mary
• Ace
• Julie
• Susanne and Mary Lou
• Jim Anderson
• Jim Wanders
• Sulphur Springs

# 59 :: 02/28/10 :: Reach for the stars, a photo by racheocity on Flickr.

This is the first day of 2012, a day for new beginnings. Last year we discovered that "new" is a very biblical concept (there are many "news” in Scripture). We can make this a new year, something different from last year. If we make a resolution to have a better relationship with God, we know that He will partner with us. In Philippians Paul shows us a new paradigm, a way of thinking that we have to grasp if we're really going to do something new. We have to read Philippians 3:1-11 to get the context for the key verses 12-15.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you....

Paul was blameless in the context of his old way of life, yet he considers it as nothing. Now Paul is answering a much bigger call: to live a life like Jesus'. While we are here on earth it is our goal to follow that Heavenly calling; we must design our priorities around that. Everything we do should be geared toward fulfilling our calling and the promise we have in Jesus to be conformed to His image. 2012 is going to be all about getting rid of things that hinder this goal, and doing things that further it.

What is Paul's “one thing” he does? It is pressing on toward the goal. The way he does this is by forgetting and reaching. Paul doesn't consider that he's already laid hold of perfection; this should encourage you as you look at 2012! Paul says that He doesn't consider that He has received, taken hold of, or arrived at the truth of Jesus' perfection. This brings up a fundamental human trait: we don’t keep reaching for the goal if we think it’s guaranteed. Romans 8:24b "...for who hopes for what he already sees?" If we believe that we possess the promises of Christ, then we will not diligently seek them. 

The feeling of buying a new car is a thrill, right, but how long does it last? It might take a little while, but eventually you become satisfied and start hoping for something else. We mustn't make that mistake concerning Heaven. Even though we're perfect in Christ, we can’t think that we are perfect in Christ. Don't get comfortable! Think of the Heavenly prize as something that we are still working to attain, because if we're confident that we have it, we will get sedentary. It's a mental attitude, "consider" that this is so. Eagerly pursue it, pressing on, doing what is necessary to reach it. Do this in two ways:

Ciężar, a photo by bazylek100 on Flickr.

1. Forgetting what lies behind: how many of you are good forgetters? Some of us can be terrible at forgetting the things that do matter and remembering those that don't matter. Forgetting is a task, and a decision. Paul says that he presses toward the goal to reach his Heavenly calling, but he has to let go of things that could keep him from moving for  ward. If we hang on to the things that are behind us then we're dragged backward by everything—good, bad, or otherwise. We have to make a mental decision to forget. The Greek work for “forgetting” is compound, involving the ideas of unnoticed, concealed, undetected, unconscious action, and oblivious, as well as upon, near, close and to. In other words, get close to oblivion. Come near to unconsciousness. Past victories, unfortunate incidents, things we were in control of, and not in control of, disasters, joys, stress, failures, pride, sin, guilt—if behind us in time, we need to put it behind in reality. Cut the umbilical cord (Hebrews 12:1). Decide that whatever happened in 2011, 1999, 1972, or 1936, will have nothing to do with the future. We won't reach the goal while we carry the burden of the past.
2. Reaching forward to what lies ahead: not only are we to get rid of what's behind, removing all that hinders, we are intentionally looking ahead. If we're planning a trip itinerary, we need to look at our destination, but also at the intermediate steps (getting to airport, switching planes, getting picked up, driving to hotel). We pursue the ultimate goal, stretching forth to reach the small goals that will lead us toward our Heavenly call. Sometimes at the end of a year you can probably look back and see a lot of wasted effort, lots of work that didn't really accomplish anything. In 2012, don't mess around with that, decide what small goals can get you closer to reaching the goal of Heaven! 

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Surround yourself with people who encourage you in your faith. There will be time when you need supporters, friends who will rejuvenate your faith.
• Spend more time in the word of God, memorize and study scripture.
• Read more books that encourage your faith (e.g. biographies of great Christians)
• Write songs of faith, learn to play music or sing for the praise of God.
• Remove a hindrance from your life (a negative relationship, situation, project, etc.)

Paul is reminding us that if we ever believe that we have attained something absolutely, we're on a slippery slope. Look at all the millionaires who got comfortable and have gone bankrupt, and then see those businesses that have never stopped changing and growing and striving and have skyrocketed to success. This is a natural dynamic of life, and we can't get too easy in our walk with Jesus. Our salvation is signed, sealed, and delivered, but we can't afford to live like that and get complacent. Complacency is the act of remembering, keeping in mind all that we've accomplished, and not caring to go any further. This mindset is like having a huge bank account, but not thinking about that safety net, acting as if you still have to budget and be careful. Work as though you have nothing in bank; otherwise like man who planned to build more barns (Luke 12:16-21).

Look ahead: what baggage are you going to throw off and what are some mini-goals you will stretch to reach in 2012?