Saturday Scripture Gold, Philippians 3:10-16

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for joining me today. Each week, I will take a verse (or passage) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious golden nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that this will inspire you to do some "digging" of your own into God's scripture!

This week's Bible passage: Philippians 3:10-16

A hungry tiger started tracking the scent of a deer. As he followed the deer, he came across the scent of a rabbit. He turned aside and started after the rabbit. The he was distracted by the scent of a mouse and started following that. He finally came to the hole into which the mouse had vanished. He ended the day hungrier than when he had started the day. This fable illustrates how many spend their lives distracted with this or that, and at the end of the day they have accomplished little.

In Philippians 3:10-16 we find a focus for one’s life, a spiritual focus. Paul wrote Philippians 3:13-14. He said, “this one thing I do." Not “a hundred things I start” or “a dozen things I attempt” – but “one thing I do.” Paul means that he is putting all his energy into this one thing, “pressing toward the mark”

Okay, I admit that I have struggled with this concept of "being focused." I get involved, at times, in too many projects and end up doing less than my best with many of them. Perhaps you, too, have trouble staying focused. If so, a study of Paul’s focused life will help us both. We will discuss three topics that helped Paul stay focused. These can serve to help us stay focused, as well.

First, stay focused on a person (Philippians 3:10-11). “Knowing” Christ involves more than just knowing about Him, it includes developing a relationship with Him. Paul already enjoyed a special relationship with Christ, but he stilled longed for a deeper and richer knowledge. This meant knowing Christ in this life. Paul wanted to know everything about Jesus. He wanted to know “the power of His resurrection.” Paul wants to know the power or strength available to the Christian through the resurrection of the Lord (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13). But at the same time he felt the need for a constant renewal of that strength and power.

In addition, Paul wanted to know “the fellowship of his suffering.” “Fellowship” is sharing or joint participation. Paul felt no one could know Christ fully unless he shared in His suffering (Galatians 6:17; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11). Through suffering for the cause of Christ, Paul came to understand more clearly what the Lord had suffered for him. Paul concluded his thought with the words, “conformable unto his death.”With the help of the Lord, Paul was dying to himself (Galatians 2:20).

Paul’s desire to know Christ more fully had at least four facets:

1) A personal experience: “that I may know Him”

2) A powerful experience: “and the power of His resurrection”

3) A painful experience: “and the fellowship of His suffering”

4) A practical experience: “being conformable unto His death”

The beginning of our quest to know Christ is seen in Romans 6. Notice the emphasis on Christ’s suffering and resurrection and our need to conform to His death. Paul looked forward to Knowing Christ in the next life. This is evidently what Paul had in mind (Philippians 3:11; John 5:28-29). Paul very much looked forward to the time when he could know Christ fully.

Secondly, stay focused on a prize (Philippians 3:12-14). This includes the past, present, and future. Regarding the present: Humility Is Needed! “Not as though I had already attained…” (Philppians 3:12). Paul had not yet obtained the full knowledge of Christ, which would come at the resurrection. “…either were already perfect” (Philippians 3:12). Paul knew that he was not all he could be or should be. If Paul claimed he had room to grow, what about us? The Bible challenge is for us to grow (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 3:18).

Regarding the past: Forgiveness Is Needed. How did Paul cope with not being all that he could be? We see this in his words, “forgetting those things which are behind” (Philppians 3:13). What did Paul forget? He forgot his past successes, as was seen earlier in this chapter. We can't rely on our past laurels. We must continue to prove ourselves. Paul also forgot his past failures. He admitted he was not “perfect” and he had not “laid hold.” Paul did not spend his time regretting, he repented and moved forward. Many allow the past to destroy their present and future (Hebrews 8:12).

Regarding the future: Progress Is Needed. When we dwell on the past we many times become distracted and discouraged. Paul said “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13). Here Paul’s intensity is seen, he had a great desire to reach his spiritual goal. What was Paul reaching for? He (Paul) was reaching for the prize!Paul knew, and so should we, that this can only be done as we faithfully fulfill our mission. We must live faithfully and bring as many to Christ as we possible can (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Thirdly, we must stay focused on people (Philippians 3:15-16). This is a genuine concern. In verses 4-14 we find Paul focused on his life (“I”- “me”-”my”-”myself”). But in verse 15 he suddenly shifts to the plural “Let us." This tells us that Paul’s focus in life was also on others. Paul wants everyone to have the attitude he has been describing. We are reminded that sometimes we are in need of a gentle correction; “and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:15). Allow me to point out here that one trait of immaturity is an inadequate grasp of God’s word.

Paul was confident that they would get the instruction they needed to make the proper decisions. He was confident that the dissenters would soon learn better. The general command here is to: “Walk by the same rule…mind the same thing.” To be spiritually united we must have a common authority; that authority is God’s Word. God’s will for us will be plain if we will obediently adhere,or stick to His written word.

In summary, we must stay focused on the spiritual task before us. Certainly there are many important matters in life, but none are as important as following Jesus!

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord, govern everything by your wisdom, so that my soul may always be serving you in the way you will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve you; let me live to you who are life itself. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle