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…
Philippians 3:13 (NIV)
What Paul Puts Behind Him
What would you most like to forget?
For most of us it’s a mistake, and this verse gets quoted that way. Paul’s own list is different. Just before he says he forgets “what is behind,” he has been talking about his achievements: his family line, his standing as a Pharisee, his zeal, a record under the law he calls faultless. He counts all of it as loss next to knowing Christ.
I find that harder than letting go of a failure. A good record is easy to lean on.
Paul leans on Christ instead. He admits he hasn’t arrived, but Christ Jesus has taken hold of him, so he keeps pressing toward the goal. Whatever is behind you, the good and the bad, you can leave it there and keep going.
A Prayer to Remember
Lord, I keep going back to my past, the parts I’m proud of and the parts I regret. Help me let go of both and keep my eyes on Christ.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
