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Philippians 3:13, 14 - Determination and Forgetting the Past.

Philippians 3:13, 14 (NLT) No, dear brothers 
and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but 
I am focusing all my energies on this one 
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to 
what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the 
race and receive the prize for which God, through 
Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. 

Philippians 3:13, 14 (CWR) I certainly don't 
consider myself as having reached perfection. 
However, this one thing I do: I forget the things of 
the past and press toward the goal to win the 
heavenly prize God is calling me to receive through 
Jesus Christ.  

INTRODUCTION 

Our most important goal should be getting to 
know Christ better. Paul says that his goal is to 
know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all 
Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all 
Paul's energy. This is a helpful example for us. We 
should not let anything take our eyes off our 
goal--knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an 
athlete in training, we must lay aside everything 
harmful and forsake anything that may distract us 
from being effective Christians.  [Life 
Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARLS

Determination
   Those who refuse to get bogged down in 
and anchored to the past are those who pursue 
the objectives of the future. People who do this 
are never petty. They are too involved in 
getting a job done to be preoccupied with 
yesterdays hurts and todays disappointments. Do you 
need some fresh encouragement to press on today? 
Read Pauls testimony: 
   No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not 
achieved it [perfection], but I focus on this one 
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to 
what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of 
the race and receive the heavenly prize for 
which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 
Philippians 3:13-14 
   Perhaps youre just now getting a 
moment to yourself, having packed the kids into the 
van and deposited each of them to school. Maybe 
youre already feeling overwhelmed just thinking 
about all you need to accomplish before its 
suppertime. Some of you are feeling at the end of your 
rope, having stepped into your seventh month of a 
ministry and already realizing the honeymoon has 
ended. Some honeymoon, huh? Okay  enough of 
self-pity. 
   The older I get, the more I realize that 
determination is not something I muster for myself, but 
something God forms in me through His Holy Spirit. 
Theres no way in the world you or I could manage to 
remain faithful and determined against the 
obstacles we inevitably face: criticism, financial 
setbacks, enemies of the truth, powerful, unseen 
forces of evil, and growing older. Yet you can 
press on by focusing on the ultimate prize: and 
the prize is a person, Jesus Christ. 
   Let me encourage you to press on toward 
the goal of gaining more and more of Christ. 
Instead of allowing bitterness and fear and 
exhaustion to define you, renew your devotion to Him - 
pursue Him in the press of your experience. He will 
meet you at just the right time, with everything 
you need to press on. Hes waiting to meet 
with you. 
   Are you pursuing Him today? Put your 
focus on Him and not on your situation. Youll 
soon feel the surge of a renewed determination 
welling up in your soul. [Chuck Swindoll 
www.insight.org.] 

Forgetting the Past
   Everyone who has run a race knows that 
you can break your stride by looking over your 
shoulder to check out how your opponents are doing. 
Many races have been lost when the leader looked 
back. When you see that finish line, that's the 
time to give it everything you've got  because 
sometimes it's mere inches that separate one runner 
from another. You must stay focused. 
   This is the idea behind Paul's statement 
in Philippians 3:13-14. The apostle was saying, 
"Don't look back. Don't look behind you." 
   When God promises, "I, even I, am He who 
blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and 
I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25), 
He is not predicting a lapse in His memory. God 
is saying. "I will no longer hold your sin 
against you because my Son has paid for it at the 
cross." 
   Therefore, we need to do what God does: 
forget our past. Yes, we certainly need to learn 
from our mistakes and remember some of the bitter 
lessons we have learned. But we no longer need to be 
controlled by our past. 
   That is what Paul meant by "forgetting 
what is behind." Think about the horrible things 
Paul had done. He shared responsibility for the 
death of Stephen and had to carry that in his 
conscience until his final day. He knew that he was 
responsible for terrible deeds. But he was able to put 
his past in the past. And we need to do the 
same. [Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie] 

COMMENTARY

The Scriptures plainly show that the work of 
sanctification is progressive. When in conversion the 
sinner finds peace with God through the blood of 
the atonement, the Christian life has but just 
begun. Now he is to "go on unto perfection;" to 
grow up "unto the measure of the stature of the 
fullness of Christ." Says the apostle Paul: "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." 
Philippians 3:13, 14. And Peter sets before us the steps 
by which Bible sanctification is to be 
attained: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith 
virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge 
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience 
godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to 
brotherly kindness charity  If ye do these things, 
ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1:5-10.  {GC 
470.1} 

CLOSING THOUGHT

Keep Your Eye on the Ball
   Awhile back a friend of mine who is a 
very good golfer was trying to teach me how to do 
a proper golf swing. I would miss the ball 
completely, and it was so embarrassing. Then I talked to 
someone who has been golfing for years and asked, 
How long would it take for me to become 
competent enough at golfing where maybe I wouldnt 
embarrass myself out on the course? 
   I dont know, he said. Three, 
maybe four years. 
   I thought, Forget it.
   Certain sports require that you keep your 
eye on the ball. That is true in life, too. In 
marriage, you have to keep your eye on the ball. That 
means constantly doing things to strengthen your 
marriage. Dont merely be reactive; be proactive. Be 
the best husband you can be. Be the best wife 
you can be. Stoke the flames of your romance. 
Dont neglect it. 
   Its also true in ministry. If God has 
called you into ministry, keep your eye on the 
ball. Dont rest on your laurels. Dont go 
into cruise control. Be proactive, looking for 
ways to be even more effective at what you do. We 
take that very seriously at Harvest Christian 
Fellowship. Were always trying to be the most 
effective we can be in this church. And this is true 
of so many things in life. 
   Its true of the Christian life. It 
isnt always sinful things that break our focus. 
Sometimes its choosing the urgent over the 
important, choosing the good over whats best, 
choosing the short-term over the long-term. So be 
careful. The moment you take your eye off the ball 
and start kicking back a little, that could be 
the setup for a fall. Be constantly moving 
forward, growing, learning, and becoming more like 
Jesus. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Philippians 3:13, 14 - Forgetting the Past 
and Pressing Toward the Goal. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160926-1856.html 

Philippians 3:13, 14 - Thanksgiving: A Story 
of Persistence. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201126-1033.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE 

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.revelationnow.com/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657