In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes:

” . . . forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal . . .” (Philippians 3:13b-14a)

Paul starts this chapter by describing his accomplishments as a religious leader within Judaism. He went so far as to claim that he was blameless with regard to how he lived according to the law.

The things he lists are good things. They are things that anyone in his day and in his nation could be proud of. What Paul is putting behind him is not a life of hedonistic pleasure or flagrant sin. He is putting all his “goodness” behind him. He is telling us that none of the good things count toward what really matters.

He is not telling us that how we live doesn’t have consequences or that it is OK to do whatever we want. What Paul is saying is that the one thing that really does matter is having a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The point is that all his religious accomplishment was not able to produce anything of ultimate value. When he came face-to-face with Christ Jesus, he understood that all his achievements totaled up to a pile of rubbish, trash, waste. He is forgetting what lies behind because it is of no value.

But it is in our nature to do stuff. We feel pressured by church leadership to take on responsibilities and make ministry happen. We can fall into the trap of pursuing constant activity without taking a single moment to ask ourselves why we’re doing all this stuff. We can find ourselves feeling guilty if we are not exhausted from serving.

What we should learn from Paul is that all the good things amount to nothing if they are not done in response to a deepening relationship with Jesus. We don’t have to work to please God. He is already pleased.

Keep in mind the goal that Paul was pressing toward. He pursued “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

Jesus himself is the prize. So take a break from the activity and enjoy him.

I have been told that the deeper one goes in his walk with Christ, he is aware of the need for a deeper application of the Gospel to his life. My experience would support this idea. The closer I get and the better I understand Jesus, the more I see my need for grace.

But the deeper I go in my walk with Christ, I also find that there is in me a stubborn and deep seated resistance to the application of the Gospel. In brief, I have the desire to work hard enough and be perfect enough to not need grace. I want to be above criticism.

At the same time that I give mental assent to Romans 3:23 (“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”) I can be disconnected from the implications of that truth. I resist grace because I want to create the illusion that I don’t need it.

Of course I know that this is self deception in its purest form. It does not take more than a moment’s observation to see that none of us lives up to our own standard. We grade on a curve and still fall short.

Just think of how often we use the word “ought” with reference to how our behavior should be different. I ought to eat more vegetables. I ought to be more disciplined in how I spend my time. I ought . . .

The point is that I very much do need grace, lots and lots of it. I don’t want to need it but I do need it.

Thankfully, Paul reminds us in Romans 5:20, “but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (NASB). And later in the same letter, Paul tells us that if we are in Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

The grace of Christ is always more powerful than my imperfection. And, that grace is freely given. I do not have to worry about whether my next failure has used up my full allotment of grace.

I don’t want grace (or at least I don’t want to need grace) but I am eternally grateful that it has been given to me.

What about you? Your thoughts are always appreciated. Feel free to comment below.

One of the advantages of reading a different version of the Bible is that different wording can awaken us to see a new application of the text. I experienced this while reading Psalm 23 this morning.

Psalm 23:3 (CSB): he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.

I am old enough to be familiar with the KJV translation of Psalm 23 where verse 3 is translated, “he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for is name’s sake.” The emphasis seems to be on God leading us into a state of righteousness. Where righteousness is the destination.

The CSB translation seems to focus on God leading us on the correct path rather than an ostensibly righteous one.

I’m not a Hebrew scholar with the ability to choose which is the better translation but I do find some encouragement from the CSB translation.

Over the years, choices had to be made with regard to vocation, location and ministry. At times I wonder if I missed a sign along the way and drove off the designated route. Should I have pursued full time Christian ministry? Did I make the right choices along the way? These are questions that can bother me.

I am learning to trust that God can use my choices, even the faulty ones, to bring me to the place he wants me to be. Like a GPS that recalculates the route when I miss a turn, God can bring about his plan without my full understanding or cooperation.

I am comforted by the promise made by the Apostle Paul in Philippians:

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

Do you find this comforting? Please use the comment box below to share your thoughts.

A synagogue official came to Jesus to petition for the healing of his daughter who was dying. On the way to the official’s house, a messenger came to tell the official that his daughter had died and that Jesus was no longer needed.

Jesus proceeded to the official’s house while telling the official not to be afraid but to believe.

Upon reaching the house, Jesus tells those assembled to stop weeping because the girl has not died. Their response was laughter.

They laughed at him, because they knew she was dead.

Luke 8:53 (CSB)

We have to keep in mind that in that culture, people knew what death looked like. People did not die in hospitals or nursing homes. The did not have professional morticians to prepare the body and make all the arrangements. People of that place and time witnessed death on a regular basis.

The girl was dead . . . for a brief amount of time.

Anyone familiar with the story knows that Jesus did heal the girl and gave orders for her to be given food. Presumably, she was hungry after her battle with whatever caused her complaint.

Like the messenger who gave the news to the official, we can too often assume that certain situations or certain people are beyond the ability to change or be changed. We can give up, doubting that there is any hope for that person or situation.

Like the people attending the family, we might even laugh at those who act as if change for the better is still possible.

But Jesus is the wild card that makes everything possible. The point (or at least one point) of this story is that no-one is beyond hope. No-one should be written off as no longer able to be changed. No-one.

The challenge is to remember that if God can soften my heart of stone so that his gospel is understood and accepted, then God can do the same for anyone else, no matter how much of a mess they’ve made of things.