Philippians 3:13-14

Scripture:  Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but 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.

Observation: Forgive and forget,  let go and let God, one day at a time, keep on trucking, keep on keepin' on, this too shall pass, tomorrow is a new day... each of these phrases remind us to keep moving forward, to forget those things which are behind and reach forth unto those things which are before. We cannot live in yesterday, and we cannot live in tomorrow, we have no guarantees for any moment past this one. We have only this moment in time with which to serve God, to love others and to show them the way to the cross.

Application: At the beginning of the year, our church picks a verse of the year... and every year it is a very fitting verse for the trials that we face.  (Amazing how God does that...) We are about half-way through this year, and it has been no exception. Many things have already happened that need to be put behind us and forgotten... and there are many, many things to reach for and work towards, and above all, we need to be reaching for God, and leading others with us. As Paul put it, we need to be pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, and I can think of no greater prize when I get to heaven than of having played a part in other souls being saved and other lives changed because of God's work in my own life.

While I realize that this verse goes so much deeper than this, it is fitting in my life today... forgive, forget and move on. God is good, I am not. I want God's goodness to shine forth from my life as a beacon so bright that there is no chance of others seeing me... but God, and God only. As I forgive wrongs that have been done to me, forget pain and trials I have gone through, my goal is to move forward in God's grace, and to leave an example that others may follow. I want to lead them to the cross, for it is there, and there only that we will find the grace to make it through this life and its sorrows.


Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I know that those things which are allowed into my life are here to cleanse me and to draw me closer to to You. Please help me Lord, to keep my eyes on You, my heart open to Your will and my life submitted to You. Lord, there is pain in my life that I do not share, there are trials that I face that no one knows, and there are places in my heart where the only light allowed comes from You, Your love and Your precious Word. Please Lord, help me to forget those things which are behind. Help me Lord, to reach forth unto those things which are before, and above all Lord, please, help me to serve You in all that I do. I thank You Lord for what You have done and what You will do in my life. I pray that You would use it for Your honor and glory, and that You would not allow me to come in the way. In Jesus name, Amen.