Devotional: Press On

Today, Sunday, December 27, is the oddest Sunday of the year as it falls in between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Two big holidays that we traditionally celebrate. 

Last Friday, we celebrated the birth of Christ and how that one event changed the entire world long ago. The special music and thoughtful gifts brought such happiness to many, but we possibly had to work harder at celebrating Christmas this year with churches not meeting in-person. 

With the pandemic, many families have lost loved ones, are dealing with Covid-19, or they are in quarantine. Some families were not able to travel, and the holiday took on quite a different meaning, as folks struggled to have a truly Merry Christmas. 

On Friday of this week, we will celebrate New Year’s Day! This is a day that many reflect over the past year and make some resolutions to do something different to improve their year ahead. I think I can safely say that we all will be praying and hoping 2021 will be a very different year than 2020. 

This reminds me of a favorite passage, Philippians 3:13b-14. But one thing I do: 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. 

Christmas is past. New Year’s is coming, if the Lord tarries. Live for today. Redeem the time.

Putting those things behind us and straining toward all that is ahead, we must press on for the Lord, the prize that He has for us. Let us make the most out of today and these last few days of 2020. The great prize will be worth it!

Written by WMU of Texas President Earl Ann Bumpus