The first part is found in v. 12: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Paul is straining forward in his faith. The word "press on" or "take hold" are phrases that were used in warfare and competitive athletics. Paul's pursuit of Christ is not a recreational endeavor. For Paul, life and death, victory and defeat hang in the balance.
The second part is found in v. 13: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..." Paul does not dwell in the past. He does not want to be encumbered by past mistakes, sins, guilt, or shame nor does he want to become content with past victories, accomplishments, or successes. Faith is all about what lies ahead and moving closer and closer to the goal of knowing (and becoming more like) Christ.
Application: The second part of this challenge is particularly difficult for me now a days. Letting go of the past seems to be a unique challenge in this season of life. I have been having a number of anxious dreams as of late (the worst reoccurring "nightmare" is having forgotten to attend a class for the whole quarter and waking up in a panic trying to figure out how to get myself of of this mess). I believe these dreams are merely a carry over from my daily life in which I am confronted with past ministry and personal difficulties. As much as a profess to trust God, I realized that these past "problems" really wear on my soul.
I am particularly challenged by Paul's words in v. 13 when he speaks of the "one thing" that he does. This combination of "forgetting what is behind" and "straining toward what is ahead" is something that I desperately need in my life. It is impossible to stem the tide of past mistakes and problems. It's like trying to hold back the constant crashing waves of the sea. The key seems to lie in the later part of that verse when he says that we need to "strain toward what is ahead." I really want my whole life (ministry and personal) to be in alignment. I want the equation of my life to be simple and clear. I want it to be centered on Jesus. I resonate with Paul's words in the later part of v.12 when he says, "...but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." R. Kent Hughes in his commentary of Philippians says this in regards to this verses: "Here Paul expressed his desire to "know" the risen Christ because he was in the grip of Christ's grace! Paul's whole pursuit of Christ was Christ-originated, Christ-motivated, and Christ-propelled."
My testimony is quite simple. Jesus took a hold of me and has never let go. I need to remember that my main calling as a Christian and pastor is to simply hold on to Him with all my life and to seek to make this the focus of each and every day. The goal is not survival but rather it is desire to continually to put my trust Him and continually seek opportunities to trust Him this year. I want my resolve to be the same of Paul: I want to know Christ... all of Him... more of Him!
Prayer: Lord, help me moved forward as this year begins even though everything in my me wants to simple stop and rest. Fix my eyes on what "you will" do this year rather than what "I've done" this past year.
