LORD, help me to focus on reaching the goal.

We make mistakes in life.  We make wrong decisions, and we go down wrong, sinful paths. But we can always go back to the right path, and walk again with the LORD, who is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, if we confess it to Him and if we humble ourselves and repent.  We have the assurance of forgiveness, and warmth of His love, and the abundance of His grace that enables us to press on in our walk of faith.  Thank You, LORD, for Your mercy. Help me to lead a life that pleases You.  Please help me to focus on the goal of reaching and helping others and building my character and growing in my knowledge and love of You.

Text:  Philippians 3:12-16   New International Version

12   Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 

13   Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 

14   I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15   All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 

16   Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

[From ODB]  On a run in the forest, I tried to find a shortcut and went down an unfamiliar path. Wondering if I was lost, I asked a runner coming the other way if I was on the right track.

“Yup,” he replied confidently. Seeing my doubtful look, he quickly added: “Don’t worry, I’ve tried all the wrong routes! But that’s okay, it’s all part of the run.”

What an apt description of my spiritual journey! How many times have I strayed from God, given in to temptation, and been distracted by the things of life? Yet God has forgiven me each time and helped me to move on—knowing I will certainly stumble again. God knows our tendency to go down the wrong path. But He’s always ready to forgive, again and again, if we confess our sins and allow His Spirit to transform us.

Paul too knew this was all part of the faith journey. Fully aware of his sinful past and current weaknesses, he knew he had yet to obtain the Christlike perfection he desired (Philippians 3:12). “But one thing I do,” he added, “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on” (vv. 13–14). Stumbling is part of our walk with God: it’s through our mistakes that He refines us. His grace enables us to press on, as forgiven children.  By Leslie Koh

[From Commentary]  The book of Philippians features several connections with Acts 16. In Acts 16, Paul was in a Philippian jail because of his witness for Jesus (vv. 19–24), but the apostle didn’t allow his imprisonment to stop his witness for Him (vv. 25–34). Philippians was written from a Roman jail and, once again, the gospel was advanced through Paul, the prisoner (Philippians 1:12–14).   

While the geographical venue was different, the situation was the same — jail time for speaking about Jesus. The apostle was transformed from a Pharisee and persecutor of Christ and His church (3:5–6) to one who wholeheartedly testified, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21). Furthermore, Paul’s passionate pursuit of Jesus warranted the use of the athletic metaphor of an undistracted runner in pursuit of a prize (3:13–14). For Paul, Christ was the prize!  by Arthur Jackson

[From me]  We make mistakes in life.  We make wrong decisions, and we go down wrong, sinful paths. But we can always go back to the right path, and walk again with the LORD, who is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, if we confess it to Him and if we humble ourselves and repent.  We have the assurance of forgiveness, and warmth of His love, and the abundance of His grace that enables us to press on in our walk of faith.  Thank You, LORD, for Your mercy. Help me to lead a life that pleases You.   Please help me to focus on the goal of reaching and helping others and building my character and growing in my knowledge and love of You.

Posted May 16, 2023