Failed Resolutions
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.
Philippians 3:10-15
One of the inevitabilities of being human is failure. Sadly, you could say it’s part of our DNA now. I have no doubt that at least a few of us (but maybe even most) have by now failed in some form or another. Or maybe you haven’t fallen short because you haven’t started!
Thankfully, the Tour de Christian is a marathon, not a sprint. And our failures are forgiven in Christ because He has already won.
But there is a danger. It’s that we make His forgiveness and victory cheap by taking it for granted. You know how this goes. Oh, I failed again, ah well, I’m forgiven, and what’s the point anyway, I’ll be forgiven. We become like the rich-kid who knows that Daddy will clean up his messes.
But is that who you want to be? Is that what Christ died for? No.
He died for you because He knew you would fail to follow Him perfectly. He didn’t die for you so that you could.
So. Maybe I’ve made you feel more guilty/depressed than you already were. I hope not. I hope instead you would go to Jesus for forgiveness but also for strength. I hope that you would reflect on the love and grace of God in Jesus and the hope we have in Him. I hope you would consider more deeply the privilege that it is to be His and to ride the mountain of life with Him.
And seeing all this. I hope you would get back on your bike and have another go. And another go. And another go. You will fail. You will fall again. But make this a rule of life - that you always get back on the bike.
For Today:
Pray:
12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.
Philippians 3:10-15
One of the inevitabilities of being human is failure. Sadly, you could say it’s part of our DNA now. I have no doubt that at least a few of us (but maybe even most) have by now failed in some form or another. Or maybe you haven’t fallen short because you haven’t started!
Thankfully, the Tour de Christian is a marathon, not a sprint. And our failures are forgiven in Christ because He has already won.
But there is a danger. It’s that we make His forgiveness and victory cheap by taking it for granted. You know how this goes. Oh, I failed again, ah well, I’m forgiven, and what’s the point anyway, I’ll be forgiven. We become like the rich-kid who knows that Daddy will clean up his messes.
But is that who you want to be? Is that what Christ died for? No.
He died for you because He knew you would fail to follow Him perfectly. He didn’t die for you so that you could.
So. Maybe I’ve made you feel more guilty/depressed than you already were. I hope not. I hope instead you would go to Jesus for forgiveness but also for strength. I hope that you would reflect on the love and grace of God in Jesus and the hope we have in Him. I hope you would consider more deeply the privilege that it is to be His and to ride the mountain of life with Him.
And seeing all this. I hope you would get back on your bike and have another go. And another go. And another go. You will fail. You will fall again. But make this a rule of life - that you always get back on the bike.
For Today:
- Repent of past failures.
- Take a few minutes to reflect on what you have in Jesus.
- Commit to continuing to press on towards being more like Jesus.
Pray:
- Praise the Father for His mercy to failures and fools.
- Give thanks for Jesus who shares His victory with us.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others keep following Jesus faithfully.
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