Goals
Most people start the New Year with certain goals for the year. Some people plan to take
off some weight. Some will plan to stop smoking. Others will set a goal to be on time for
appointments. Goals are designed to make us better people in the areas we feel we are
weak.
The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Philippi saying, “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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13, 14). The apostle makes three points in this passage
that we can use for our own goals for the New Year:
First, “but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.”
Paul did not dwell on the past. The past is over and done with and nothing can be done
to change it. If we have hurt someone, we must correct it. After we have made our
corrections, we must move forward and refuse to make the same mistakes. Someone
said, “Dwelling on our mistakes has the propensity of doing them again.” Negative
thinking will remind us that we failed to meet our goals last time and reinforce such
thinking to repeat the same action again.
Second, Paul said, “And reaching forth unto those things which are before.” A
new year should include new goals. When people fail to have goals, there will be little
effort to change; thus there will no changes for the better in that person’s life. When the
children of Israel were leaving Egypt, they faced some challenges which caused fear.
This fear caused them to think they could not make it, which in turn led them to want to
go back to where they were. But God told Moses to tell the Israelites to “go forward.”
Moses wrote:
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes,
and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore
afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD. 11 And they
said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou
taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus
with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 Is not this the word that we
did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the
Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than
that we should die in the wilderness. 13 And Moses said unto the people,
Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will
shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye
shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you,
and ye shall hold your peace. 15 And the LORD said unto Moses,
Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that
they go forward. (Exodus 14:10-15; emphasis B.W.)
God intended for His people to move forward. Going backwards or standing still is not
in God’s plan for His people. We need to set good measurable goals and work to reach
them.
Third, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus”. This point was Paul’s goal. He wanted “the prize of the high calling
of God IN CHRIST” (emphasis B.W.) The prize is found in Christ. The apostle Paul
wrote to the church at Colosse, “Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of hisa dear Son: 14 In
whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”
(Colossians 1:13, 14; emphasis B.W.).
How do we get in Christ? A passage in Romans can help us with that question, “Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been
planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the
likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified
with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we
should not serve sin” ( Romans 6:3-6; emphasis B.W.).
What goals do we have for 2010? Wouldn’t it be good to have at least one, and that one
to be in Christ?
a
his...: Gr. the Son of his love