Scripture:
Philippians 3:12-16 NKJV
[12] Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. [13] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, [14] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. [16] Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Observation:
The letter written to the church in Philippi is not very long, in fact it’s one of the shortest books in the new testament. Which was one of the reasons I chose to read it when I started to read the bible. It was only 4 chapters long, and I did not know how to read very well nor really have a desire to do so, but I just knew I had to read the bible. There was something different about this book. The relationship that was developing between GOD and myself needed to start small. All I really knew is that it was absolutely necessary for me to see what the Bible had to say. What I didn’t know is that it speaks directly to our hearts. Reading the letter that had been written to the church in Philippi was rather encouraging. The perseverance that Paul expressed to the church taught me a lot. The humility, ambition, consistency, and desire to move forward, despite what yesterday presented was exactly what I needed to hear. So as I searched for what to write about, The Holy brought me to this point in the letter. Let’s see what GOD has for us this morning, as Paul beings he makes a declaration of imperfections through humility, “ Not that I have already attained, or am made perfect; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me, you see Paul knew that it was all about Christ Jesus and what HE had done. The perfection that HE had laid hold of for Paul was what he set his eyes on. Paul was not trying to look at himself with any kind of self righteousness, he knew it wasn’t about what he could obtain by the works of himself, but what had already been done through the sacrificial death that Jesus Christ had experienced, laying hold of sinless perfection. His expression of grace in verse 13 has been ringing in my ears for the past several years, “But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Paul’s understanding of the grace of GOD was deeper than most of us allow ourselves to understand. He knew what was important…today, he knew that if he stayed stuck in the past he could not take advantage of the opportunities he would come across today. Holding on to the mistakes of yesterday would not allow him to move forward. I can’t tell you how many times I have quoted verse 14, it’s honestly one of my favorites. It shows the importance of living in the moment. Pushing past what happened into GOD’s plan for it, Paul says, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus.” Staying stuck in a mistake only allows the enemy a foothold. Paul was not perfect and he knew it. As he was expressing his gratitude for GOD’S grace and explaining how it works. His instructions are, don’t get stuck in the past. Press forward no matter what yesterday looked like. Continuing to teach this spiritual principle, he says, “Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, GOD will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” Paul’s expression of GOD’S grace here was profound. He was explaining how it truly works, making today better than yesterday without staying stuck in the mistake, but press on to see something better.
Application:
Staying stuck in yesterday is one of the tools of the enemy. Sure I believe it’s important not to continue to do the same things over and over and expect something different. We have tk make a decision to move forward. That can not be done if we are clinging to our mistakes. We have to let go of what happened in order to get to what GOD truly has in-store for us, the verse that comes to mind as that statement was being typed out is Roman’s chapter 8 and verse 28, which says,”And we know that all things work together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose.” What is being taught here is that GOD’S grace is designed to shape us, our mistakes do not define us, they refine us. There is not one of us that has obtained sinless perfection. Believe me I know and have tried. Only to find myself falling short, holding on to not only what has been done to me, but also the things that I have done. The power of sin is found in guilt, shame, and fear. All of those things appear when we can’t let go of yesterday and reach forward to our future. The enemy wants to keep us stuck in our past. If he can keep us stuck there we will not pay attention to where we are going. Staying stuck in our mistakes will not allow us to see GOD’S endless mercy and grace. I like to think of it from the perspective of driving a car. When you are driving a car, you have this great big windshield to look out of to see where you are going, and a little mirror to see where you have been. If you get stuck in the rear view mirror, you will not see the blessings you are running over. Yes GOD is behind you covering your past with grace, but more importantly HE is in front of you drawing you into the kingdom. When Peter got out of the boat, he was focused on what he had been told, “COME” he believed what had been said. As he began to do exactly that. He started to think about how impossible what he was doing was, and those thoughts combined with the storm stole his attention from the windshield. But even as he started to sink the savior reached out to make sure he could move forward and got back in the boat safely. My point is this our past is gone there is nothing we can do about it, all we can do is move forward, if we can’t let go of what happened yesterday we will sink, and that’s not what I’m interested in doing, sure it hurt but the pain has brought growth, and the growth was worth the pain. We can not allow the enemy to steal our focus from where we are going. So every time he tries to keep me stuck in yesterday I remind him of his tomorrow.
Prayer:
Father, although we may not see a way out, we know that you have a plan, and our faith is not in what we can do but what you have already done. We know that you did not lead us here by mistake. You see what we don’t and we are trusting you in this moment. We know that it is impossible to please you without faith. We do not see what you are going to do, but we know that something big is about to happen. You would not have brought us here if you did not have a plan to get us to the other side of it. More work is coming, more provisions are on the other side. As we learn to trust you with everything. You will give us exactly what we need according to your riches and glory. Today our past is gone and a new life is in our midst. Thank you for the salvation. You have saved us from ourselves. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.