Philippians 3:15-16 [Philips]
12-14 Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have “arrived”, spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal—my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ.
15-16 All of us who are spiritually adult should set ourselves this sort of ambition, and if at present you cannot see this, yet you will find that this is the attitude which God is leading you to adopt. It is important that we go forward in the light of such truth as we have ourselves attained to.
Spiritually adult (spiritually mature) sets to the ambition of:
.. leaving the past behind
.. hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead
.. going straight for the goal
Which means, if we want to be spiritually mature:
.. we must not look back and start counting the past events of our lives
.. we must be willing to take on new challenging “weights” (not necessarily something that will stress us out, but something we can already handle to push ourselves towards the next level)
.. we must always be thinking of the goal knowing that ‘It is important that we go forward in the light of such truth as we have ourselves attained to.’
These things aren’t done in such a way that we are not capable of doing such things. Rather, we have already attained a certain level in our maturity – we must not shrink back but move forward.
// I will not shrink back nor will I look at the past anymore. I really desire to mature more in the Lord – which then means, I have to strain ahead, removing any obstacles that would cause me to shrink back (ie. thinking of the past, being idle or stagnant, etc). This includes my daily spiritual discipline, the management of my finances, time spent with family, friends, disciples, etc., time management in general (ie. so I won’t be tardy in all appointments). These can only be done by God’s equipping grace that will enable me to be successful in all these aspects. I will trust and continually live up to what I have already attained in, for, and through the Lord.
// Lord, YOU ARE my strength that will gracefully enable me to strain forward to the goal that You have for me as Your child. Please help me to look forward, ahead of what You mean for me in the end. If for right now, that You mean for me to rejuvenate and rest, may You help me to accept and learn that this is what I have to do. Help me to know what specific things You want me to do that I will not miss what You have planned for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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