THIS YEAR’S THEME

Life is full of highs and lows. We experience significant accomplishments and setbacks. On one side, we may experience great joy and pride in things like league or state championships, graduation, or other important academic achievements. On the other side, we may experience extreme tragedy such as the effects of divorce, loss of jobs, homelessness, food insecurity, racial inequality, and the death of loved ones.

No matter what we’ve experienced and gone through, we are called to know Christ more and more. Paul himself says that he is continually striving for this. He forgets the past, both the good and the bad, in order to focus on obtaining this prize of knowing Christ more. All his accomplishments are now considered trash, all his suffering and hardships are behind him as he presses on to reach his goal!

Philippians 3:13-14

We too are called to persevere through all the hardships in our lives. We are to not let our past accomplishments distract us from reaching our goal either. Like a runner, not wanting to waste energy looking back at the ground they’ve covered, we are to fix our eyes on the prize ahead. We are called to strain and expend all our efforts and energies toward that which Jesus has called us to.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14