Scripture Daily

Context No. 3869 of 4322 · Philippians

Context · Reflection

Philippians 3:13-21: in context

13Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you. 16Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind. 17Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. 18For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself.

Paul describes the Christian life as a race run with singular focus: one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He does not let his past, whether his failures or his achievements, hold him back; he leaves it behind and reaches forward, pressing on toward Christ.

Two things stand out. There is a forgetting and a straining: we do not stay stuck in the past, whether in old sins that would discourage us or old successes that would make us complacent; we press on toward what is ahead. And there is a settled hope that orients the whole race: our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body. We run as those who belong to another country, whose true home and destiny are with Christ. This heavenly citizenship gives the race its direction. We press on, forgetting what is behind, because our home and our Savior are ahead.

Am I pressing on toward Christ, refusing to be held back by past failures or successes, and living as a citizen of heaven who awaits the Savior and the transformation he will bring?

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