Forgetting What is Behind and Straining for What is Ahead

In Philippians 3 Paul does his best to share how worthless the things of this world are in light of our salvation in Christ. His simple desire is to know Christ and to participate in His sufferings. This world offers so many worthless things that lull us away from finding security in the salvation offered to us by God through the death and resurrection of His son. We slowly lean into patterns that slowly deceive us and rob us of the joy only found in Christ. I have seen these patterns affect my own life to the extent that even my times of worship and communion can get wrapped up in worthless patterns that are drawing me away from God. This time of quarantine has opened my eyes to some of these patterns and I pray it’s done the same for you. Paul expresses in verses 13 and 14 that he forgets what is behind and strains for what’s ahead. As we continue through this season and especially when this season ends we must dedicate ourselves to forgetting what is behind and straining for what’s ahead. We need to ask ourselves the hard questions of what patterns have we fallen into that are more for our own comfort and gain than the glory of God. What things do we need to consider a loss for the sake of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord?
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