Being the Church in the WildSample

Pressing On

Missional living is a race of endurance.

In Philippians Chapter 3:12-27, Paul writes what feels like a war cry to a church in Philippi. He lets the Church know that we must remain focused on the goal as God is beckoning us onward. In the Message version he says, “Stick with me, friends…there are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them.”

My friend – stick with me. We are running a marathon of faith. Living a life of mission requires endurance and focus. In the wilderness, distractions and shiny objects are at every turn. Opportunities for us to chase success come so readily available. Clout. Money. Happiness.

When everything around us looks more fun, we will continue to press forward to meet the mark. In the end, we will see the fruit of our labor and the faithfulness of Jesus.

He will make us beautiful.

Questions:

1. What are some areas in my life where I need to persevere and keep pressing on, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable?
2. Am I living my life with an eternal perspective, keeping my focus on the ultimate goal of being with Jesus and sharing His love with others, even in the midst of challenges and struggles?

Action: Identify one area of your faith journey where you need to press on and keep moving forward. Commit to taking one small step each day toward progress in this area, and ask God for the strength and perseverance to keep going.