What Are You Working On?

Focus: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching 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

A few years ago, I was given the honor of preaching at a church in a town where Denise and I had served years earlier. It was a great blessing to be back with our friends and family there.

My sermon that morning was on the issue of anger. I shared Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians, “Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:26-27). I challenged the congregation, when you are angry . . . watch out!

It’s always interesting to discover who is listening when you preach. I received a message the next day from one of our friends that her seven-year-old son had taken good notes. She wrote, “Raylan was paying attention to your sermon yesterday. This morning, I overheard him telling Serena (his five-year-old sister) that he was ‘working on anger.’ He said, ‘Try to do something to make me mad and I’ll try not to hit you.’” Out of the mouth of babes!

I’m not sure how that young man did on his commitment, but as we enter 2025, his childlike response to God’s Word poses an important question for each of us . . . what are you working on?

New Year’s Day has always been my favorite holiday. Not New Year’s Eve, when we tend to look backwards, but the inaugural day of a new year. I like to call it “Philippians 3:13-14 Day”: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

New Year’s Day is an annual gift from the Father that invites us to close the door on the pains and failures of the past and look forward with anticipation to what He is going to do in, through, and around us in the year to come. It is an opportunity for a fresh start on life’s challenges.

Let me encourage each of you to follow the lead of a young child. Ask God to show you two or three areas of your walk that He wants to develop this year. Perhaps it is improving an aspect of your personal character, strengthening a spiritual discipline, or surrendering to serve Him in a new place or new way.

What are you working on??? Let the Master give you His answer for your 2025.

“New Year’s Day is an annual gift from the Father that invites us to close the door on the pains and failures of the past and look forward with anticipation to what He is going to do in, through, and around us in the year to come. It is an opportunity for a fresh start on life’s challenges.”