Future Focused
This is Living: Philippians
Pastor Todd Blansit
New Life Church
August 18, 2024

God has a plan for each and every one of us and we will find the most satisfaction in life when we begin to live out that plan. When our goal for our lives matches God’s goal for our lives, it is powerful. We can have a firm grip on our purpose and the meaning of our lives

My past failures can be very discouraging. If I try and fail, especially several times, it can become easy to believe that success is out of my reach and that I am doomed to always fail. I know there are areas in my own life that I struggle with, and fall short over and over. Will I ever have victory over this thing? And sometimes it is tempting to just give up even trying. But I need to forget those past failures. They are in the past, and there is nothing I can do about them. But I can prepare for what lies ahead.

Paul had the right upbringing, nationality, family background, inheritance, activity, and morality. He had all the right credentials, but instead of bringing him closer to God, they got in the way. The advantage became a disadvantage. His credentials and advantages led him to persecute the church and oppose what God was doing.

The question is not whether you are perfect. Paul said, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal," (3:12). No one will be perfect in this life. The question is, Are you pressing on to make Christ your own? That is our day-to-day challenge: to make Christ our greatest treasure and count everything else as garbage by comparison!

What passions has God placed deep in your heart?
What are the desires that would fit the character of God?
One way to make sure that you’re following God’s plan instead of selfish desire is to look at how those goals fit God's character and purpose.
Do those goals reflect love toward people?
Do they reflect God’s heart to redeem the lost?