“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:8-14)
I am resolved to not make any resolutions. Ok, I am sorry for that, but it simply had to emerge from my silly side.
It is a sad situation that modern culture has brought about to weaken a word of determination: resolved, resolute, resolution. Since we make such feeble attempts to do something deemed to be good or good for us at the beginning of a New Year, usually failing almost immediately, we basically have developed a disdain for the word altogether. Sigh.
When thinking of facing this New Year with the idea of a kind of new beginning, my mind went immediately to this passage of Scripture which Paul wrote to express his on-going life goal. He knows he may not attain, but he is determined to continue advancing toward what he has not yet attained. He is determined to know his LORD more and more, day by day. He is determined to capture the very essence of Christ’s character and cause that to flow from himself.
Those who know me realize some of the depths of my love for my precious, God-given, wife, Ruthi. One cannot attain to such a love all at once, but it grows through constant abiding and communing with the object of that desired love quest. One must be determined to know and love such a one more and more, day by day. I love my Ruthi greatly. I shall love her greater on the morrow. Such is my determination.
Paul’s goal has become my goal. To know Him and all that is contained in His Eternal being. This is my determination for 2019. I fully understand that it shall require due diligence with every moment of my life. “I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
I, too, know that I myself cannot attain this, though I am determined to achieve. This pursuit is beyond my will power. I might or might not be able to lose five pounds in the month of January by an act of my will, but this I know; I have a better chance to achieve my determination to be Spirit fed and Spirit grown as I submit to the power of my LORD’s will. I shall abide in Him as His Word abides in me.
I encourage you to follow Paul’s lead in 2019. If you will, I can assure you of a Joy-filled New Year. God bless you even more on your journey.
