Hi there, today we pick up our journey through Philippians in chapter 3, verses 12-16. The last few days we’ve been talking about identity and purpose, the new way of living offered to us by God. Here is verse 12, where Paul continues to talk about that life: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

REFLECTION

Part of my role here at STC Sheffield is, with my wife Kate, to lead the Young Adults Church. This verse strikes at the heart of one of the reasons why I’m passionate about this job. Pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us. Pressing on to step into our Christ centred identity and purpose. Or in other words, not settling. We want to be a group of people, a community, who refuse to settle for anything less than Christ’s best for us, because this is what Jesus offers us. So often we see people stuck in a relationship they don’t want to be in. In a job that drains life. A slave to the student debts racked up over the last few years. We encounter people paralysed by fear of the future. People who are so dependent on the approval of others or controlled by their own appetites or ambitions that they cannot enjoy life. You might be listening today thinking ‘how does he know?!’ You might be thinking of yourself, a partner or a friend. But here’s the reality, we all have these kind of things in our lives, you’re not alone. And here’s God’s truth speaking into that earthly reality- We don’t have to settle for less than Christ’s best for us. 

This isn’t about how much money we have, how many of our life goals we’ve ticked and it’s not about having nothing hard in our lives as Jesus doesn’t promise an easy life insulated from the pains of this world. It isn’t even about happiness and contentment. As a slight aside contentment is a subtly different thing, Paul talks later in Philippians about being content in all circumstances and striving for Christ’s best for us doesn’t mean we can’t be content in those places. Not settling is about living a truly fulfilled and purposeful life. The end of verse 13 and start of 14 says this- But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal. Our lives are not defined by our past, our present, or even what we can ourselves imagine our future to be. As we looked at on Monday, we are defined by God and His calling and grace in our lives. 

Today is Ash Wednesday. What a great day for taking some new practical steps to help us to press on towards Christ’s best for us. On a day that marks the start of a season where we remember how Jesus prepared Himself for His purpose, let’s choose to step into our purpose. Let’s take the time to consider the places in our lives that aren’t the best that Christ has for us. Let’s use this lent season, a time where people lay things down and take up Holy habits, to make simple steps towards all Christ has for us. And remember this lent that each day is a brand new start with Jesus. Each day we forget what is behind; the bad habit we slipped back into yesterday; the missed days on our Bible reading plan, and we press ahead to take hold of the Jesus life that we are called to.

PRAYER

Thank you Father that you call us to a life of purpose, a life of significance. Please help us today on this Ash Wednesday as we seek to focus on you, particularly over this next season of lent. Help us to press on and step into all the good things that you call each one of us, and help us to be an encouragement to others as they seek to do the same. Amen.

READING: PHILIPPIANS 3:12-16

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.