Daily Scripture:
Philippians 3:12 It is not that I have already obtained it or already reached the goal — no, I keep pursuing it in the hope of taking hold of that for which the Messiah Yeshua took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions:
In Wonder, Mr. Browne was Auggie’s home room teacher. Mr. Browne asked his students, “Who is it that I aspire to be? That is the question that we should be asking ourselves all the time.” The only way to get where we are going is to keep reaching out for it. The apostle Paul knew that God is calling us forward, asking us to live each day like pilgrims on a journey to an eternal destination we have not yet reached.
- We watch World Cup soccer teams and players (or Olympic athletes, if you’re not a soccer fan) suffer defeat one day but come back the next to win a victory that moves them toward their ultimate goal. How can you learn from their example? In your spiritual journey, how have you learned to pick yourself up and keep moving forward after the times when you fall short of your ideals?
- At times, a congregation like Resurrection (or each of us as an individual member of the congregation) can be tempted to decide, “We’ve arrived—we’re doing enough.” How can we as a congregation, and as individuals, always remember that we have not yet reached our goal, that God always has more ahead for us? How can you support and live out this forward-looking spirit?
Matt Nixon is a senior at Blue Valley Southwest High School and an active student leader in rezlife student ministries.
Holidays are great--except when we're trying to maintain a writing schedule! We plan to hear from summer intern Matt Nixon yet this summer--but on this day after a day off, we're sharing a post that Pastor Molly Simpson (who now lives in Texas, but who led Resurrection West for a number of years) wrote in 2012:
Read today's Insight by Molly Simpson
Paul writes these words with abandon--leaving behind those things which may have been reason for shame and also reason for pride--as he strains to become the person that God has called him to be, the identity that Christ has already taken hold of for him.
There's a man in our congregation that I think of when I read this passage. In the last few years, there is noticeable, marked change in him. He is more compassionate and less angry. He listens to his children and his former detachment is gone. He serves, giving his time for the sake of others, rather than complaining or feeling sorry for himself (and he's had a rough go). In subtle ways and giant ones, he is becoming the man that Christ claimed for him when he decided to hand the reins over to Jesus. It's pretty cool to witness.
As I set my sights on things ahead, I think it might be most meaningful to pray about and reflect on the idea that there is a version of me that Jesus Christ has taken hold of, that he wants/expects/knows that I can be. That's probably bolder and better than what I want. I think I'll spend some time with this idea today.
So, what is it that Christ would have you strain toward? Who is _____ (fill in your name here) when gaining Christ, being found in him, and living the life that he set forth for you?
And here's the best thing... unlike so many of our goals, that which Christ calls us toward is attainable, it is reasonable (even if we do spend our lifetime being transformed fully), and we don't get there alone. We do so together, in Christian community, and we do so with the example of Jesus and the change-agent of the Holy Spirit.
Like this post? Share it!
You might also like:
There's a man in our congregation that I think of when I read this passage. In the last few years, there is noticeable, marked change in him. He is more compassionate and less angry. He listens to his children and his former detachment is gone. He serves, giving his time for the sake of others, rather than complaining or feeling sorry for himself (and he's had a rough go). In subtle ways and giant ones, he is becoming the man that Christ claimed for him when he decided to hand the reins over to Jesus. It's pretty cool to witness.
As I set my sights on things ahead, I think it might be most meaningful to pray about and reflect on the idea that there is a version of me that Jesus Christ has taken hold of, that he wants/expects/knows that I can be. That's probably bolder and better than what I want. I think I'll spend some time with this idea today.
So, what is it that Christ would have you strain toward? Who is _____ (fill in your name here) when gaining Christ, being found in him, and living the life that he set forth for you?
And here's the best thing... unlike so many of our goals, that which Christ calls us toward is attainable, it is reasonable (even if we do spend our lifetime being transformed fully), and we don't get there alone. We do so together, in Christian community, and we do so with the example of Jesus and the change-agent of the Holy Spirit.
Like this post? Share it!
You might also like:
- Seeing again
- “My Son, whom I dearly love”
- Kindness: a fruit of the Spirit
- Prayer Tip: What do you see?
- “The fields are already ripe for the harvest”
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The United Methodist Church of the of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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