Keep Pressing Forward – Philippians 3:12-14 Commentary

Pastor David’s Bible Study on Philippians 3:12-14. Journey with me verse by verse through the Bible. Today’s devotional is all about pressing forward to your God-given goal. Keep moving and don’t get stuck in the past.

Commentary on Philippians 3:12-14

Hey everybody! I hope you’re having a great week and welcome to another Bible study as we continue to unpack the book of Philippians. Today we’re gonna talk about pressing toward the goal. So let’s jump right in.

What is your ultimate goal in life? What are you moving toward every day? This is a question that we should spend some time with. For some this is undefined.

We don’t know where we’re headed. For others, if we’re honest, our current goals don’t line up with the beliefs that we say we have. Not understanding what our goal is can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction. If we have a complete answer to this defining question, it can really clarify how we should act and respond to the situations in which we find ourselves.

For Paul, the answer to this question is crystal clear. In Philippians 3 12 through 14, he says this “not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul had a clear view of his goal because he had a clear view of his call.

God has a plan for each and every one of us and we will find the most satisfaction in life when we begin to live out that plan. When our goal for our lives matches God’s goal for our lives, it is powerful. We can have a firm grip on our purpose and the meaning of our lives.

So, let’s dig into this and see how Paul viewed his ultimate goal in life and how we can develop this same mentality.

Beginning in verse 12, he makes sure that we understand that he has not attained perfection. We are all sinners and once we put our faith and trust in Christ for salvation we don’t immediately become these super Christians. We’re on a journey of faith and we’re constantly growing. It’s dangerous to begin to believe that we have somehow attained a higher status than others.

This leads down a road of all kinds of judgmental thinking. Paul says that he’s not quite there yet, but he’s continually pushing forward. This is so important. He is intentionally moving toward his God-given goal. Faith by nature is active.

We must begin to act on the core beliefs that we possess and press toward the goal that God has given us.

He hasn’t grasped it yet but he says – but this one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.

Paul had come a long way. He’d come from being a killer of Christians to a planter of churches. He had seen the hand of God move in a mighty way but he looks at those things and he doesn’t want to just live in the past.

He wants to keep moving forward. We can get caught up in all that God has done for us in the past and get complacent on moving forward in our lives as well.

It’s great to remember and to be thankful for all that God has done, but we can’t stop pressing on because we are enamored with the past.

Having a God-given goal gives us the motivation to keep moving forward.

Keeping that goal in view keeps us from becoming complacent. The race isn’t over.

There is still so much to be done. The big idea here is that the kinds of goals were talking about are not just normal things that we’d like to accomplish in life.

We’re talking about the kind of goals that come from the calling of God.

These goals mirrored God’s goals for you and are part of his plan.

What passions has God placed deep in your heart? What are the desires that would fit the character of God?

One way to make sure that you’re following God’s plan instead of selfish desire is to look at how those goals fit the character and purposes of God Himself. Do those goals reflect love toward people? Do they reflect God’s heart to redeem the lost?

Do they engage, encourage, and equip people to live godly lives?

Once you find your God-given goal, pursue it with everything that you have.

Activate your faith and press on toward the mark.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today in God’s Word. If this commentary on Philippians 3:12-14 was a blessing please leave a comment below and please consider sharing it with someone in your circle of influence.

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