Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But 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 upward call of God in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 3:13-14 Many people write devotions to be inspiring. That's not my goal. Many others write them to provide deep theological thoughts, and to provoke a different way at looking at life. That is not my goal. I know sometimes these can be heavy handed, but my goal is always the same: To bring others to Jesus Christ, not as we would have Him, but as He is, revealed to us through the Scriptures. IN the long run, our goal should not be to be better people, better Christians, better parents or spouses or teachers or workers or whatever else the Lord may call us to. Our Goal is always to get to Jesus, and to bring others to Him as He provides the opportunity. In the end, I don't care if people consider me a good man or not, inspiring, or not, uplifting or not. I want you to go where I'm going, and I will step on toes along the way, not because I look for toes to step on, but because I will always speak the truth through God's word. Sin is still sin, and while we preach the Word of God, sin will always be a sore spot to people who do not wish to change. This life is short, the world has always sought after its own good, and so why should I add to it? This world is not my home. My aim is not to make the world a better place, but introduce everyone I can to the ONE who will renew it! I pray that this becomes your goal as well, and that together, we will be champions for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, dying to self for the sake of all others that they, too, may know the saving Grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. This world is not our home. It has nothing that lasts that it could offer us, but in Jesus is Eternal Life. I choose to strain toward Him as the goal. 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
