Philippians 3:13, 14 - Determination and Forgetting the Past.
Philippians 3:13, 14 (NLT) No, dear brothers
and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but
I am focusing all my energies on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the
race and receive the prize for which God, through
Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
Philippians 3:13, 14 (CWR) I certainly don't
consider myself as having reached perfection.
However, this one thing I do: I forget the things of
the past and press toward the goal to win the
heavenly prize God is calling me to receive through
Jesus Christ.
INTRODUCTION
Our most important goal should be getting to
know Christ better. Paul says that his goal is to
know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all
Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all
Paul's energy. This is a helpful example for us. We
should not let anything take our eyes off our
goal--knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an
athlete in training, we must lay aside everything
harmful and forsake anything that may distract us
from being effective Christians. [Life
Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARLS
Determination
Those who refuse to get bogged down in
and anchored to the past are those who pursue
the objectives of the future. People who do this
are never petty. They are too involved in
getting a job done to be preoccupied with
yesterdays hurts and todays disappointments. Do you
need some fresh encouragement to press on today?
Read Pauls testimony:
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not
achieved it [perfection], but I focus on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of
the race and receive the heavenly prize for
which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:13-14
Perhaps youre just now getting a
moment to yourself, having packed the kids into the
van and deposited each of them to school. Maybe
youre already feeling overwhelmed just thinking
about all you need to accomplish before its
suppertime. Some of you are feeling at the end of your
rope, having stepped into your seventh month of a
ministry and already realizing the honeymoon has
ended. Some honeymoon, huh? Okay enough of
self-pity.
The older I get, the more I realize that
determination is not something I muster for myself, but
something God forms in me through His Holy Spirit.
Theres no way in the world you or I could manage to
remain faithful and determined against the
obstacles we inevitably face: criticism, financial
setbacks, enemies of the truth, powerful, unseen
forces of evil, and growing older. Yet you can
press on by focusing on the ultimate prize: and
the prize is a person, Jesus Christ.
Let me encourage you to press on toward
the goal of gaining more and more of Christ.
Instead of allowing bitterness and fear and
exhaustion to define you, renew your devotion to Him -
pursue Him in the press of your experience. He will
meet you at just the right time, with everything
you need to press on. Hes waiting to meet
with you.
Are you pursuing Him today? Put your
focus on Him and not on your situation. Youll
soon feel the surge of a renewed determination
welling up in your soul. [Chuck Swindoll
www.insight.org.]
Forgetting the Past
Everyone who has run a race knows that
you can break your stride by looking over your
shoulder to check out how your opponents are doing.
Many races have been lost when the leader looked
back. When you see that finish line, that's the
time to give it everything you've got because
sometimes it's mere inches that separate one runner
from another. You must stay focused.
This is the idea behind Paul's statement
in Philippians 3:13-14. The apostle was saying,
"Don't look back. Don't look behind you."
When God promises, "I, even I, am He who
blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and
I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25),
He is not predicting a lapse in His memory. God
is saying. "I will no longer hold your sin
against you because my Son has paid for it at the
cross."
Therefore, we need to do what God does:
forget our past. Yes, we certainly need to learn
from our mistakes and remember some of the bitter
lessons we have learned. But we no longer need to be
controlled by our past.
That is what Paul meant by "forgetting
what is behind." Think about the horrible things
Paul had done. He shared responsibility for the
death of Stephen and had to carry that in his
conscience until his final day. He knew that he was
responsible for terrible deeds. But he was able to put
his past in the past. And we need to do the
same. [Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie]
COMMENTARY
The Scriptures plainly show that the work of
sanctification is progressive. When in conversion the
sinner finds peace with God through the blood of
the atonement, the Christian life has but just
begun. Now he is to "go on unto perfection;" to
grow up "unto the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ." Says the apostle Paul: "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."
Philippians 3:13, 14. And Peter sets before us the steps
by which Bible sanctification is to be
attained: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity If ye do these things,
ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1:5-10. {GC
470.1}
CLOSING THOUGHT
Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Awhile back a friend of mine who is a
very good golfer was trying to teach me how to do
a proper golf swing. I would miss the ball
completely, and it was so embarrassing. Then I talked to
someone who has been golfing for years and asked,
How long would it take for me to become
competent enough at golfing where maybe I wouldnt
embarrass myself out on the course?
I dont know, he said. Three,
maybe four years.
I thought, Forget it.
Certain sports require that you keep your
eye on the ball. That is true in life, too. In
marriage, you have to keep your eye on the ball. That
means constantly doing things to strengthen your
marriage. Dont merely be reactive; be proactive. Be
the best husband you can be. Be the best wife
you can be. Stoke the flames of your romance.
Dont neglect it.
Its also true in ministry. If God has
called you into ministry, keep your eye on the
ball. Dont rest on your laurels. Dont go
into cruise control. Be proactive, looking for
ways to be even more effective at what you do. We
take that very seriously at Harvest Christian
Fellowship. Were always trying to be the most
effective we can be in this church. And this is true
of so many things in life.
Its true of the Christian life. It
isnt always sinful things that break our focus.
Sometimes its choosing the urgent over the
important, choosing the good over whats best,
choosing the short-term over the long-term. So be
careful. The moment you take your eye off the ball
and start kicking back a little, that could be
the setup for a fall. Be constantly moving
forward, growing, learning, and becoming more like
Jesus. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Philippians 3:13, 14 - Forgetting the Past
and Pressing Toward the Goal.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160926-1856.html
Philippians 3:13, 14 - Thanksgiving: A Story
of Persistence.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201126-1033.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
