READ:
Philippians 3
If Paul’s good works and great theological training could have gotten
him to heaven, he’d have been the first one there. His record was spotless. This
is something Paul says he could have boasted about, but in light of what he had
in Jesus anything he would have gained through all his good credentials was the
equivalent of garbage. Worse. Only the righteousness he has by faith counts for
anything. He actually says he would willingly give up any reward for those
‘good credentials’ in exchange for the opportunity to suffer with Christ. So
solid is Paul’s belief in heaven and in God’s rewards to those who love and
serve Him till the end he would give everything up for that.
Paul’s history, as he states so bluntly in this passage, includes
persecuting Christians. That had to be a hard reputation to overcome! By God’s
grace though, he was overjoyed to be persecuted for Him. This is why Paul is so
emphatic about forgetting what is behind. What’s behind him is a life of
horrendous sin – even though at the time he thought he was doing God’s work. If
Paul had let his mind dwell on these things during his time in prison he would
not have had joy, or courage to keep pressing on. Instead, he thwarted every
attempt of the enemy to destroy his joy by concentrating on all that God had
done for him. Even more specifically, it was what God had promised him: the
reward of heaven and being in God’s presence.
However, one thing Paul points out is that the attitude of forgetting
what’s behind to push on to the prize is an attitude of the mature believer.
This is the goal. It is not the starting point. And - it’s not easy. He
encourages the believers in Philippi not to hold it against anyone if they
don’t believe quite the same on this. Instead they need to trust God to reveal
it when it’s time. This is such a beautiful and tender teaching Paul gives us.
Like the spiritual Father he is, he is allowing each to grow at their own pace,
pushing no one to grow faster than the Holy Spirit is leading them.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1. Ask the Lord to reveal to you if there are any
‘good credentials’ or ‘good behaviors’ you are unknowingly holding onto as a
measuring stick for God to use instead of your righteousness that came by faith
alone in Him. Ask the Lord to show you if your belief in your resurrection
after death into heaven is so strong you are willing to suffer for, and with,
Christ. Ask Him to fill your heart with promises and your mind with His words
and pictures to encourage you when you suffer for Him with joy.
2. Do you have sin from your past that is holding you
back from pressing on toward the prize? Ask God to show you how ‘forgetting
what is behind’ (purposely not thinking or dwelling on past sin we’ll not
likely ever forget) will give you joy and passion to move forward. Listen to
the Lord as He speaks to you about your complete forgiveness. Journal what He
says so you can go back to this for encouragement.
3. Have you ever been frustrated with another believer
who just ‘doesn’t get it’? Or who seems to be growing slowly while you a
growing quickly? Or do you sometimes feel like others are pushing you to grow
and finding it very frustrating? Ask the Lord to speak to you about your
spiritual growth. Ask Him to reveal to you if you need to leave others alone
and instead pray for the Holy Spirit to lead them into deeper growth. Confess
any sin of getting in the Holy Spirit’s way, if necessary. Thank the Lord that
He has your spiritual growth as His focus and that He promises to bring your
growth to completion. (Phil. 1:6)
