It is a new year! 2026 is upon us, and it is hard to believe. There have been so many things that happened last year, and so many goals that I have fallen short of. A lot of people use January first to focus on new achievements they want to make. Some make resolutions to follow a certain diet or go to the gym. Some make vague efforts to change, such as reading more books. There are people out there, though, who are really trying to achieve something. They might be trying to run a marathon, or even win a specific sporting event. They may be trying to win a chess tournament or even get a certain rating. One day, maybe December of this year, we will look back at the time we spent on trying to achieve a goal, and we will have to answer, “Was it worth it?”
There is a man in the Bible who asked himself that question. He looked back on many years of hard work and asked, was it worth it? Was being raised in the family I was born into worth it? Was keeping the law by my own righteousness worth it? The schooling, training, and hard work, was it worth it? You may be surprised to know that this man was none other than the apostle Paul, and his answer was – “No.”
Philippians 3:4-14 KJV
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I wonder what we will look back on this year with regret and say, I count that as dung? Is your goal Christ? Are you pressing toward that mark, the high calling of Jesus? Are you running a race for a corruptible crown, or an incorruptible one?
I want 2026 to be a year that I passionately pursue my savior. To look back and see that I found fellowship in his suffering and reached for that mark. Jesus has called us to so much. I want to know him better today than I did yesterday. I want to end this year being closer to Christ than I was before the year started. I want to look ahead and not behind. I want to lose the weights that so easily beset me – that I may win Christ!
S.T.
Acts 20:24
"But none of these things move me..."
Edited 1.24.26
wonderfullymadepublication.com 