Press On!

What does it mean to Press On?

I am sure you have seen the classic British poster, “Keep Calm and Carry On” and all the other versions people have made.  My favorite is Yoda telling Luke Skywalker, “Keep calm, you must. Mmmm. Carry On You Will. Yes.”

The original poster was designed to be public encouragement posters in pre-WWII England. As much as I appreciate the British approach, I like the Yoda version because it speaks to something deeper than a surface level calm, and robotic continuation of duties. Luke needs to quiet his mind to get in touch with the Force, because only in that spiritual power will he be able to achieve his victory. His physical strength and skill can never be enough to achieve his goal.

When the Apostle Paul was is telling his congregation in Philippians chapter 3 about what he wanted them to know about achieving their goal, he used the phrase “Press On.” He meant it not as a physical challenge to try harder, or get more skills, but to use those skills for the sake of Jesus.

To paraphrase Paul he says, “I had the best life because of my education, because of my work, and because of my achievements. I had it all and should have been content! Yet I count those things as worthless now. They don’t hold a candle to the greater gift I have received: that of knowing and accepting Jesus Christ. Knowing Christ loves me is why I Press On. Jesus is my goal, and God’s Kingdom is my destination.”

We cannot Press On with physical strength or skill alone. We need faith, we need an inner strength. But how do we grow it? It’s unrealistic to say we renounce all our earthly wealth to go live in a secluded swamp on Dagobah. Even there Yoda and Luke are challenged to Press On to the greater good.

Rather than rejecting his physical skills and talents, Paul used them! Paul used all his speaking skills, political connections, and monetary resources to Press On towards Jesus in real and tangible ways. He met with people and encouraged them to put their hope and trust not in their country, their weapons, or their cultural heritage, but in the saving death of a loving, itinerant preacher from Galilee.

When we live in a world where our leaders say that we should “hate our enemies,” or “might makes right,” we need to remember our deeper strength and goal. We Press On not to gain power or control in this life. We Press On to share the love of Jesus; we use our time our skills and our money to make sure that Jesus is known and proclaimed here in Crestwood!

I pray that you might feel called to Press On with us here at Southminster in our goal to increase our faith and to make Jesus known in our community.