Is there a goal you have been chasing for quite some time? Have you grown weary of pursuing it? Are you ready to give up on it? Are you sure you are pursuing the correct goal? Would you like to have the energy you need to pursue the correct goal for you?
We set many goals throughout our lives. Some goals are small and short-term. Some goals are much larger and long-term and can take years to accomplish. It is the long-term goal that we can grow weary of chasing.
As we chase long-term goals, especially those that take years to accomplish, we need encouragement to continue. Long-term pursuit requires persistence, discipline, and planning. We typically plan short-term goals that support the long-term goal in order to track our progress and make course corrections as needed along the way. The same is required in our Christian walk.
As we pursue becoming more like Jesus, we know it won’t happen overnight. Even those who may have an enlightened change suddenly must continue to work at continuing on that path. It requires work on our part, the same as if we made a conscious decision to pursue the change over time.
We see the apostle Paul telling the Philippians that he had not achieved his goal. He says he continues to pursue becoming like Jesus—a worthy goal. We should have the same goal as Paul. Our desire should be to become more like Jesus. We know it won’t come quickly and will require discipline.
What is a key component of our pursuit? Paul states we are to forget our past. It doesn’t mean we forget the lessons we learned, but we are not to focus on our past failures. Instead, we are to focus on the next step, the next day, the next week, and the future path as we continue our pursuit of walking the path God would have us walk.
Our goal is not only to be more like Jesus in this life, but it is a goal that God has called us to. That goal is to spend eternity with Jesus Christ. The pursuit of that goal includes being in awe of what He did for us, loving Him, and focusing our efforts as directed by Him.
I pray we all pursue eternity in heaven. I pray we focus on the future God has in mind for us. I pray each of us ask God for the persistence and discipline we need to continue our pursuit. Be in awe of God. Love God for who He is. Pursue being like Jesus. Ask God to help you. Trust He knows what is best for you.
Philippians 3:12-13 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. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Marty Pressey 