NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 8, 2023
Sunday is the Seventh Sunday of Kingdomtide. During the season of Kingdomtide, most of the assigned scripture has been about enriching the life of others, especially those within the community of faith in which we belong. Often it does so by helping us to live our best lives, living out the purposeful life God has designed for us. In doing so, it enriches our lives, blesses others and brings glory to God.
The assigned text for this Sunday from Philippians 3 continues this trend. Paul writes in v.12 saying, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.” (ESV)
Here Paul is admitting something that we all need to admit if we want to get to where God has for us and living out fully the purposeful, fulfilling like God has for us. Paul admits that he doesn’t have it all together; that he hasn’t reached his full potential yet; and that there is still room for him to grow to reach it. So, Paul makes this declaration in vs. 13 & 14, “Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
In these verses, Paul gives us some steps we can utilize in any season of our life when in need of some encouragement to “Don’t Give Up: Press On!”
Join us for worship at Covenant this Sunday, in-person, by Zoom, Facebook Livestream or YouTube. My sermon will be “DON’T GIVE UP: PRESS ON!” based on “Philippians 3:10-14.”
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