Grow. Pray. Study. Daily Guide from the United Methodist Church
of the Resurrection – Tuesday, 31 December 2013 – "Reach out for the
things ahead" (New Year's Eve)
Daily Scripture: Philippians 3: 10 I want to know Christ[a] and
the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming
like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the
dead.
Pressing toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached
the goal;[b] but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me
his own. 13 Beloved,[c] I do not consider that I have made it my own;[d] but
this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what
lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly[e] call
of God in Christ Jesus.
Footnotes:
a. Philippians 3:10 Gk him
b. Philippians 3:12 Or have already been made perfect
c. Philippians 3:13 Gk Brothers
d. Philippians 3:13 Other ancient authorities read my own yet
e. Philippians 3:14 Gk upward
Reflection Questions:
Christmas Vacation is funny, yet shows how much conflict comes
from clinging to past hurts. The Apostle Paul was surely tempted to cling to
past hurts, both self-inflicted and at the hands of others (cf. Acts 9:1-2; 2
Corinthians 11:24-28). Yet Paul knew the truth to a hope-filled life: he said
he lived purposefully by releasing the past and moving towards God's goal for
his life and the world around him.
Goals are important. In today's passage, Paul wrote that he was
pursuing "the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" as
his goal. God's goal for the world is that creation reaches its intended
wholeness. God's goal for his people is for us to become the people he desires
us to be, leading lives full of love, joy, peace, and hope. What are your goals
for your life? How do they match up with God's goals for your life?
In verse 13, Paul shared an essential truth in pursuing God's
goals: "I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things
ahead of me." Your past need not define you. Spiritual growth is a process
that focuses on what is to come, not what lies behind. Are you letting anything
from your past define you in the present? On this New Year's Eve, ask God to
help you let go of the past, and focus on the present and future.
Today's Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me a hope-filled future.
Help me to forget what lies behind, focus on what is to come, and press on
toward your goal for my life and for the world around me. Amen.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013 – Insight from Rev. Anne Williams
Rev. Anne Williams is the Congregational Care pastor for members
of the Resurrection family who have last names beginning with S-Z.
For the past few years I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions.
I’m usually one of those hippy dippy kinds of people who say I’d rather not set
goals and see where life takes me. Perhaps that comes from having set
resolutions in the past and not remembering what I said a month later. :)
This year feels a little different. A few days ago I had the
idea to resolve to work on becoming more like the fruits of the spirit we find
in Galatians 5:22-23. It’s a list of traits that generally feels unattainable
to me but what I have learned is that those traits don’t grow in me without
intentionality. So I’m thinking I’ll focus on one per month – at least for the
first nine months of the year – praying that God fosters that month’s trait in
me and that I am given opportunities and grace to practice it. I bought a ring
from the Well Bookstore with the scripture I’ll wear – like a string tied
around my finger as a reminder of my resolution. What new adventures will you
take with God this year? What spiritual practices will you commit yourself to?
Here’s to a new year of living into the fruits of God’s spirit
which live within each one of us. More love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Cheers!
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United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, KS 66224 United States
(913)897-0120
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