Devotions with Pastor Jared Ritchey

Philippians 3:14 is a phenomenal verse! In it, Paul says “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Just this verse alone can be very encouraging, however, as with all Scripture, it should not be looked at by itself and must be kept in context. In Philippians 3, Paul is warning this church to not be caught off guard by evil and deceitful people. Paul outlines his qualifications for being a good person, having kept the Law his entire life and being trained as a Pharisee, then immediately turns it around by saying “But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7) Then, we get to
​3:12 - 16: “Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching for what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

We’re in a new year, full of new opportunities. It’s a time where people are making resolutions and trying to make positive changes in their lives (myself included). But let’s never forget that we don’t have to tie positive change to a certain date of the calendar, and our “success” as a Christian looks nothing like success to the world. TODAY you can begin and continue to press on towards the goal that Christ has set before us!

Blessings,
Pastor Jared