Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
December 30, 2001
Over the last three months we have examined what it means to be a successful Christian. We have defined a successful Christian as “a person who has been saved from their sins by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and, as an adopted child of God who worships Him, is bringing glory to His name by being conformed into the image of Jesus by submitting themselves to the will of God in faithfully pursuing holiness and blamelessness along with serving the Lord in doing the good works He has prepared before hand.” However, it is one thing to define and talk about being a successful Christian and another to actually be one. It is too easy to agree with the point and yet continue in daily habits that are contrary to the point. There must come a time when we resolve to make the needed changes.
We, like Moses in Psalm 90:12 need to number our days that we might present to God a heart of wisdom. We, like Paul in Ephesians 5:16, need to make the most of our time, because the days are evil. We must do this each and every day of our lives. Every day should be a day to resolve to be better today than the day before. Yet, there is something special about the marking of the passing of a year that causes us to pause and reflect more deeply. How has life been going? Were you able to accomplish what you really wanted to accomplish? Have you changed and become a better person over the course of the year? My quest this morning is to challenge you to reflect on your life and consider how well you are doing and prod you on to resolve to change as needed in order to be a successful Christian.
Resolutions
Resolutions, especially New Year’s resolutions, do not generally carry the importance in our society that they once did. Some find them a point of humor such as the person who defined a New Year’s resolution as something that goes in one year and out the other,” or the fellow that quipped, “May your troubles in the coming New Year be as short-lived as your resolutions.” Some people are cynical about any hope for change, such as the fellow who said, “The New Year gives people a fresh start on their old habits,” and another who said, “Serious trouble comes when the New Year’s resolutions collide with the old year’s habits.” Others’ reveal the evil in their own heart in their resistance to make any resolution to be a better person, such as the person who said, “A New Year’s resolution is a promise to stop doing everything you enjoy the most.”
In times past, it was the common desire of American society to change as individuals into better people. Benjamin Franklin wrote down this common thought this way, “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” What many people now consider to be what they “enjoy the most” used to be commonly considered vices that a mature individual would have set aside or at least they would recognize them as vices and not something to be proud of or promoted. Character mattered. But regardless of what our society may or may not advocate, the Christian is one whose hope is bound up in changing into someone more godly than they were the year before. We are to strive to be more successful Christians. That is why it is good for us to take note of the passing of time and give consideration to becoming better as the future unfolds.
Resolutions are good for us because thoughtful change is good for us and resolutions require that. You may not need to go through the formality off writing down all the “wherefores” and “therefores,” though that may be a good and helpful exercise, but we should take the time to examine our lives and consider “whats”, “wheres” and “whys” of our shortcomings and then make definite plans on how to change and overcome them. The true Christian desires to be more like Jesus Christ next year than they have been this year.
Resolving to be Different
Man’s Ability to Change
Some question if man can change. The fact is that not only can man change, but he is expected to change. God created man in His image and included in that image is reason and volition. These are the ability to think through things and make choices. The evidence of man’s ability to change is evident all around us in the technology that has developed over the last few hundred years. It is evident in the political systems that have developed that have given people more basic freedoms than have existed in the past under feudal systems and kings. It is evident in humanitarian efforts that are made by even non-Christians in some societies, and systems of law that do distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong. Even the unregenerate recognize these truths and that is why they advocate education so strongly. They see it as a means to produce change when people are young and most moldable.
I am not saying in any way that man can change and become good enough to meet God’s standards of holiness, nor can man change himself to overcome his basic sin nature. Man is in slavery to his sin and his bondage to his sin nature can only be broken by the regeneration that comes with faith in Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5, Rom. 6, 1 Cor. 5:17). He can meet God’s standard of holiness only when the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to him resulting in his justification (Phil 3:9; Gal. 2:16). My point is simply that man, even the unsaved, can change and there should be an expectation that they will.
If the non-Christian can make resolutions and behave better next year than they have this year, then even more so should the Christian change for the better with the passing of time. If changing into a better person was optional, then we would have to question the reason for God to set forth His commands to us in the Scriptures. What possible good would it do for the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins? What benefit in the present would there be for Jesus to have died as the payment of our sins if sin’s bondage was not broken? Yes, the law is a schoolmaster and the Spirit’s conviction would bring about feelings of horrible guilt and need for forgiveness, but Jesus did not just remove sin’s penalty, he broke the bondage of sin over us (Romans 6). The stated purpose of our salvation in Romans 8:29 is to be conformed into the image of His Son. There is no doubt that God expects the Christian to change.
God’s Charge to Change
Over the last three months we have examined what it means to be a successful Christian. Bound up in the very nature of our salvation is change. Jesus broke bondage of sin and transferred us from Satan’s dominion to His own (Col. 1). It is only reasonable that we live in holiness as living sacrifices to God in view of what He has done for us through Jesus Christ in saving us from sin. God expects us to resist the pressure of the world to conform us into its mold. He calls on us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1,2). Making resolutions to change in specific areas is simply an aspect of being transformed by the renewing of our minds, for it is making up our minds about what needs to change and setting plans for doing so.
God has given commands to Christians and every one of them, and the principles that flow out of them, are vivid proof that God expects the Christian to change and become more conformed to the image of His son by being obedient to Him. We are to set aside the old life with its sinful habits and put on the new life (Col. 3). We are to no longer let sin be our master because we are to be slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6).
If a professing Christian does not change and continues to live sinfully, then there is legitimate reason to call into question their profession. They should be properly challenged to examine themselves to see if they are indeed in the faith (2 Cor. 13). This does not mean the Christian will not sin, for the Bible makes it clear that Christians do sin, but we are expected to walk in the light, and when we do sin we are expected to confess those sins (1 John 1:6-10). Part of the purpose of true Christian fellowship is helping one another overcome sin through both encouragement and admonition. The purpose of church discipline is to correct and restore erring brothers and sisters while disfellowshiping those that love themselves and their sin more than Christ and will not repent (Matt. 18; Gal. 6).
How then do you change? It starts with recognizing the problem. You will not fix what you don’t think is broken. Then you must push on and correct the problem while establishing a new pattern of living to replace the old one. In short, you have to break old habits and develop new ones.
Developing New Habits
Breaking the Old Habits.
After you recognize an area that needs to change, you need to confess to the Lord whatever sin may be involved. Take care that even if the activity itself may not be sinful, there still may be sin involved. This may take some serious Bible study to know the mind of God on a matter as well as thoughtful meditation to see how it applies specifically in your life.
For example. It should be easy to spot the sin in habits such as lying, having a foul mouth or failing to meet with other Christians. There are direct commands concerning each of these. We are not to lie (Col. 3:8,9). We are not to let any unwholesome word proceed from our mouths (Eph. 4:29). And we are not to neglect meeting with other believers (Heb. 10:25). But what about something like seeing the need to spend more time in prayer and Bible Study? You may have to think through your use of time. Perhaps there is nothing sinful in itself in what you are doing with your time, but over all there may be a failure in making the most of it to fulfill God’s priorities (Eph. 5:16). Reading the paper is not a sin, but if you are doing that and neglecting your Bible, then perhaps it is. Watching TV may not be a sin, but if you are doing that and neglecting to pray, then perhaps it is.
Paul states in 1 Cor. 10:23 that for the Christian, “All things are lawful,” but “not all things are profitable” or “edify.” He set his course to seek the good of others and not just what pleased himself (vs. 24). In other words, just because something is not a sin doesn’t mean it is something that you should do. We should seek the best, not just what is acceptable. We should consider whether it is good for us or build others up. Paul added in 1 Cor. 6:12 that he would not allow himself to become mastered or subjected to anything. Maybe it is something that is okay to do, but has it become a master to you? Hobbies are one area that is a danger to all of us in this way. It may be a fine activity, but if you have become obsessed with it, then there is a problem. If you cannot easily set an activity aside, then perhaps it is mastering you and you need to set it aside for a time and break the habit just so that you remain in control.
After you recognize the area that needs to be changed, then confess whatever sin may be involved (1 John 1:9). Next, ask God for wisdom (James 1:5) to both understand His will and how to change. God is faithful and gives such wisdom generously to those who ask. Finally, make a plan to change, and even if all you can do at the present time is the very first step, which may simply be to stop your current practice, make that step trusting God to empower you to do so. Change for most people usually comes one step at a time and not in great leaps.
The key to success in breaking an old habit is coming under conviction that it is a habit that needs to be broken whether it is a direct sin or just something that is not the best. If you are not convinced of that, then you will not change or you will resent the change forced upon you by others.
Establishing New Habits:
It is not enough to break an old habit. You must replace it with a new habit. Otherwise, you will go back to the old habit. It is not enough to stop lying. You must also tell the truth. It is not enough to stop stealing. You must also start giving. It is not enough to stop receiving counsel from the ungodly. You have to develop friendships with the godly and mediate on God’s word (Psalm 1). It is not enough to stop listening to music and watching TV that tears you down spiritually, you must replace it with music and activities that fits the Biblical standard of being true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:6).
How do you create a new habit? By first stopping the old habit and then practicing the new one with great diligence. At first it usually takes conscious effort to do so, but as you continue doing it, it will be done with little effort and then become your normal practice. For example, how do you start getting up earlier in the morning so that you can have a time of prayer and Bible reading before starting the day’s activities? First, set your alarm clock at the time you want to get up and place it on the opposite side of the room from your bed. Then, make sure it will produce a very annoying sound. This forces you to have to get up to turn it off. Next, do whatever you need to do to make sure you are awake enough to read and pray and not fall back to sleep. Exercise, take your shower, get a cup of coffee, etc. Then read your Bible and pray. Do this for a few days and you will be tired enough to go to bed earlier in the evening so that you can get up earlier in the morning. Repeat this process for a few months, and you will start waking up before the alarm goes off. Repeat this for a few years, and you won’t need an alarm clock. It will be your habit of life. You will find that if you then miss your quiet time with God in the morning, you will feel out of sorts all day long.
How do you change then? Stop the old habit and replace it with the new habit you want to develop. Repeat this over and over for days, weeks, months and years.
What Needs to Change
Fundamental Issues: There are many things in our lives that probably need to change. Most people consider a diet immediately after the holidays to get rid of the extra girth they have added in all the feasting. Or they may consider some particular vice they would like to stop (improper diet, smoking, drinking, cursing, etc.) or something in particular they would like to begin (regular exercise, healthier diet, Bible study, etc.). But in all honesty, those are side issues that should be the result of a more fundamental change that should take place in us. They should be the result of a deeper examination of our lives and the motivations behind our actions.
One of the reasons that people cannot change enough to match God’s standards is simply because the outward actions are not enough to meet His standards. Lets face it, there are many members of cults and even false religions that can out perform the average Christian in doing what is right and good. But outward conformity to God’s laws is not enough. God looks at the heart and weighs the motives (Jer. 17:10, 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9). God wants us to change from the inside out. Our fundamental view of life and what is important must change and not just our outward behaviors.
What are these fundamental issues? We have addressed these over the last few months, but let me list some of them again for you.
1) The quest to know God Himself and be in a personal relationship with Him. This was the cry of Moses to God in Exod. 33:13 “let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee” and in verse 18 “I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!” It was the purpose in Christ coming that we might know the only true God (John 17:3). It is still the quest of the Christian to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord (1 Peter 3:18).
2) The quest to truly worship God in righteousness. The heathen worship false gods and many professing Christians try to worship the true God, but they do so in accordance with their own desires and schemes just as the Jewish religious leaders did 2,000 years ago. That is also false worship. Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4 that “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” That is a fundamental pursuit of the true Christian. We fulfill it with the true sacrifices that God desires – the sacrifices of praise that come from a broken and contrite heart and spirit (Heb. 13:15; Psalm 51:17)
3) The quest for personal holiness. We were saved so that we could be “holy and blameless before Him” and God’s command is that we are to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). The true Christian wants to be cleansed by God and have a clean heart before Him (Ps 51:2,10). We want to live a life separated from the world and unto God. (Rom. 12:2). A corollary to this is that we want to know and do God’s will. That separates us from the world and its practices.
4) The quest to be used of God for His glory. All that a Christian does from the good deeds he does even down to what and how he eats and drinks are to glorify God (Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31). The Christian desires to serve God and be a good steward of the time, gifts, talents and resources that God has entrusted to him.
5) The desire to see others know Jesus and follow him. This is the motive for fulfilling the great commission in making disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19,20). We were saved for the purpose of proclaiming the excellencies of God to the nations (1 Peter 2:9) This has a corollary in learning and using your spiritual gifts, for as we know and use our spiritual gifts then the whole body is built up and becomes more effective in the task of discipleship including teaching obedience to Christ (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12).
6) All of these take a knowledge of God’s word, diligence in prayer and self-discipline to obey and follow God’s will, but the final result is a life that is lived for God instead of yourself because you are walking in submission to the Spirit in a manner worthy of your calling.
The fundamental issues come down to two particular commands. Jesus stated them clearly in Matthew 22. “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind? How do you demonstrate that in your daily life? Do you love your neighbor as yourself. How do you demonstrate that in your daily life? All the fundamental issues already mentioned and their particular application in your life will arise from these two commandments.
Particular Issues:
There are many particular issues. I do not know which ones you need to work on the most, but I do believe if you will seek the Lord and give some thought to it you will be able to see areas in which you need to make some resolutions to improve.
Let me just ask some questions. They will be in the two major categories – loving God and loving your neighbor. I hope they will spark some inward reflection on your part.
Loving God – Do you really love God with all your heart, soul and mind? What is more important to you than God? Anything that is, is an idol to you. How much time do you spend in your own Bible study, prayer, meditation and personal worship? Are you spending enough time in those activities that you are actually getting to know God and His will better? How does the time spent in those activities compare to time spent in your hobbies and being entertained? Do you know what your spiritual gift(s) are? Are you using them? How much time to you spend in serving the Lord? How does that compare to time spent in your hobbies and entertainment? Do your entertainments reflect God’s standards of holiness? How about your finances? Do you give joyfully to the Lord’s work? How does your giving to Him compare with spending on things that are for your own pleasure? Do you ever use the Lord’s name in vain? Do you treat Him in any way as less than the holy being that He is?
Loving your neighbors – Do you love your neighbors as yourself? Do you honor your parents? Children, do you obey your parents? Is there anyone you hate? Do you have a grudge against anyone? Do you refrain from adulterous glances and thoughts? What do you allow your eyes to see? Your ears to hear? Your mind to dwell on? Do those things honor God? Do they show honor and respect to others? Do you steal? Do you give your employer a full day’s work? Do you cheat on your taxes? Do you lie about anything even if it seems innocent to you? Do you gossip? Are you discontent and want what your neighbor has? Do you rejoice in your neighbor’s success?
General – Do you love the world and the things in the world or God? Is your mind set on things above or on the things of this earth? Have you considered the members of your earthly body dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed? Have you put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech from your mouth? Is your mind set to think on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy? Do the books and magazines you read, the music you listen to and the TV and movies you see help or hinder having a godly mind? Do they meet God’s standards or have you compromised and replaced His standards with your own or those of the world? Is your life marked by walking in the flesh with its idolatry, heresies, enmities, strife, jealousy, disputes, envying, drunkenness and carousing? Or is it marked by walking in the Spirit with His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
I think you all get the idea that there are areas each of us can improve. The question that remains is “will we?” We will do what is needed to change? Will we break the bad habits and replace them with new ones? We are not left on our own to do this. It is a matter of obedience to God to step out in faith to do it and we can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us. But there is one other source of help that God does want us to take advantage of and that is one another.
Getting Help
The body of Christ is to grow together. Too often we are afraid to share our areas of weakness lest someone judge us for it. Yes, there will be people who will do that and when they do they are in sin. We however cannot let that stop us for asking for help from the rest of the body. We need to let others know the areas we are struggling with and working on so they can pray for us, encourage us and hold us accountable. That is what the body of Christ is for.
In the bulletin this morning I have put in an insert to encourage you to do that. You can fill it out with your resolutions and then give it to someone you would like to help you. Ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable. If you want to remain anonymous, but want prayer, then put your request down and leave your name off or put your name down and put “unspoken” on the resolution line and give it to me or put it in the faith box, and the matter will be prayed about.
Let’s all be more serious living for Christ and help one another. Don’t put it off any longer. We should be ready to do this at anytime, but the transition from one year to the next is a good time to make resolutions and make the changes needed in one’s life. Let each of us resolve and then work hard to be successful Christians – those who have been saved from their sins by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and, as an adopted children of God who worships Him, are bringing glory to His name by being conformed into the image of Jesus by submitting ourselves to the will of God in faithfully pursuing holiness and blamelessness along with serving the Lord in doing the good works He has prepared before hand.”
Dear Master for this coming year
Just one request I bring:
I do not pray for happiness,
or any earthly thing –
I do not ask to understand
The way Thou leadest me,
But this I ask: teach me to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.
I want to know Thy guiding voice,
to walk with Thee each day.
Dear Master make me swift to hear
And ready to obey.
And thus the year I now begin
A happy year will be –
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.” Selected
KIDS CORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the word “resolution” is used. 2) Discuss with your parents how you can be a better person in the coming New Year.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What is a successful Christian? How well do you match the definition of a successful Christian? What are your thoughts about New Year’s resolutions? What are the difficulties with them? What are their benefits? Can a person change for the better? Why or why not? Can a man change enough to meet God’s standards? Why or why not? What did Jesus’ death accomplish for those who believe in Him? What evidence is there that God expects Christians to change for the better? What is the first step in changing? Why is it difficult to know the sin that might be involved in a habit that needs to be changed? What principles guide the Christian in their use of liberty? What do you need to do after you identify any sin problem? What is needed in addition to breaking old bad habits? How do you create a new habit? Give an example from your own life. What are the fundamental issues to consider when thinking about changes that may need to be made in your life? What are your strengths and weakness in these areas? What are the two foundational laws God has given us? In what areas do you see these principles operating in your life? What specific areas do you see changes that need to be made in your life? What is your plan to make sure those changes occur? Who will you ask to pray for you and hold you accountable in making those changes?
Resolving to be Different
Man’s Ability to Change
God’s Charge to Change
Developing New Habits
Breaking the Old
1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23,24, 1 John 1:9 James 1:5
Establishing the New
What Needs to Change
Fundamental Issues (Jer. 17:10; 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9)
To Know God and be in a personal relationship with Him (Ex. 33:13; 1 Pet. 3:18)
To Truly worship God in righteousness (John 4; Heb. 13:15; Psalm 51:17)
Personal Holiness and doing God’s will (1 Peter 1:16; Psalm 51:2,10; Rom. 12:2)
Being used for God’s glory (Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31)
Seeing others know and follow Jesus (Matt. 28:19,20; 1 Peter 2:9; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12)
Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind (Matt. 22:17)
Loving your neighbor as yourself (Matt. 22:39)
Particular Issues
Loving God – Do you really love God with all your heart, soul and mind? What is more important to you than God? Anything that is, is an idol to you. How much time do you spend in your own Bible study, prayer, meditation and personal worship? Are you spending enough time in those activities that you are actually getting to know God and His will better? How does the time spent in those activities compare to time spent in your hobbies and being entertained? Do you know what your spiritual gift(s) are? Are you using them? How much time to you spend in serving the Lord? How does that compare to time spent in your hobbies and entertainment? Do your entertainments reflect God’s standards of holiness? How about your finances? Do you give joyfully to the Lord’s work? How does your giving to Him compare with spending on things that are for your own pleasure? Do you ever use the Lord’s name in vain? Do you treat Him in any way as less than the holy being that He is?
Loving your neighbors – Do you love your neighbors as yourself? Do you honor your parents? Children, do you obey your parents? Is there anyone you hate? Do you have a grudge against anyone? Do you refrain from adulterous glances and thoughts? What do you allow your eyes to see? Your ears to hear? Your mind to dwell on? Do those things honor God? Do they show honor and respect to others? Do you steal? Do you give your employer a full day’s work? Do you cheat on your taxes? Do you lie about anything even if it seems innocent to you? Do you gossip? Are you discontent and want what your neighbor has? Do you rejoice in your neighbor’s success?
General – Do you love the world and the things in the world or God? Is your mind set on things above or on the things of this earth? Have you considered the members of your earthly body dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed? Have you put aside anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech from your mouth? Is your mind set to think on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy? Do the books and magazines you read, the music you listen to and the TV and movies you see help or hinder having a godly mind? Do they meet God’s standards or have you compromised and replaced His standards with your own or those of the world? Is your life marked by walking in the flesh with its idolatry, heresies, enmities, strife, jealousy, disputes, envying, drunkenness and carousing? Or is it marked by walking in the Spirit with His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
Getting Help
RESOLUTION:
Understanding and agreeing that I need to make changes in my life in order to be more like my Savior Jesus Christ and bring Him greater honor and glory, and/or demonstrate a greater love to other people, I make the following resolutions:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: _________________________________________________
Phone Number: _________________________________________
By sharing my resolution(s) with you, I am asking that you diligently pray for me in these areas and hold me accountable in implementing these changes. You have the right to ask me about how I am doing in these areas at any appropriate time.
I will, like Paul, forget those things which are behind and press forward; like David, lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help; like Abraham, trust implicitly in my God; like Enoch, walk in daily fellowship with my heavenly Father; like Jehoshaphat, prepare my heart to seek God like Moses, choose rather to suffer than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; like Daniel, commune with my God at all times; like Job, be patient under all circumstances; like Caleb and Joshua, refuse to be discouraged because of superior numbers; like Joseph, turn my back to all seductive advances; like Gideon advance even though my friends be few; like Aaron and Hur, uphold the hands of my spiritual leaders; like Isaiah, consecrate myself to do God’s work; like Andrew, strive to lead my brother into a closer walk with Christ; like John, lean upon the bosom of the Master and imbibe of His Spirit; like Stephen, manifest a forgiving spirit toward all who seek my hurt; like Timothy, study the Word of God; like the heavenly host, proclaim the message of peace on Earth and good will toward all men; and like my Lord Himself, overcome all earthly allurements by refusing to succumb to their enticements.
Realizing that I cannot hope to achieve these objectives by my own strength, I will rely upon Christ, for “I can do all things thorough Christ which strengtheneth me.” George Burger
Romans 12:1,2 (NASB) I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Philippians 3:13,14 (NASB) Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of [it] yet; but one thing [I do]: forgetting what [lies] behind and reaching forward to what [lies] ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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