In chapel last semester, I “discovered” Philippians 3:12-14. This passage altered my thinking, revealed things to me, and changed my behavior. The verses state,
I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.
With my constant struggle against the sins in my life, I have always known that I am not who God wants me to be. But these verses showed me that I should constantly try. That’s what Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason I am a Christian.
This passage also taught me how I can truly continue in sanctification. I learned that I should not wallow around in my guilt and shame, lacking joy and hope. I learned that I should forget what is in the past (all my sins and lack of spiritual maturity) and try as hard as I can to be who God wants me to be. I learned that leaving what is in the past in the past and striving to be/do better is Biblical. It is not just a recommendation or suggestion. It is an obligation. Jesus died on the cross so that I could live in heaven. I now know that I should give back to Him by doing what this passage says to do: leave what is in the past in the past and do my best to be who I should be.
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