In The Word
Read: Philippians 3:12-21
12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what liesahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well;16 however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;21 who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
If anyone would have a reason to be troubled by his past, it was Paul. Remember how he persecuted the church. He was responsible for kidnapping believers and bringing them back to Jerusalem to face the Pharisees. When Stephen was killed, Paul was the keeper of the robes and gave hearty approval. However, Paul had let go of his past and was living for what lay ahead. Paul’s attitude was that he must press forward every day to move closer to being more like Christ, being conformed to His image. He encouraged all the mature believers to have that same attitude (Philippians 3:15).
The believers were encouraged to follow Paul’s example of his life. They were also encouraged to be careful of those who seek glory for themselves and set their minds on earthly things. We are reminded that we are aliens here in this world since we have the Lord Jesus as our Savior. We are citizens of Heaven. One day we will be transformed and conformed to His glory by His resurrection power.
Are you holding on to your past instead of pressing on? When the devil reminds you of your past, tell him to get behind you in the name of Jesus. Your old sinful life is under the precious blood of Christ and he faces eternity in hell. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Today, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.