WEEK FIVE
Day One
DAILY SCRIPTURE
Philippians 3:13
LEADER GUIDE QUESTIONS
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Know: Read Philippians 3:12-14
Note: Read slowly, carefully marking keywords.
press on, lay hold of what Christ laid hold of me, forgetting those things which are behind, reach forward
Observation: Study notes below for context.
What are we reaching for?
What did Christ lay hold of in us?
What: What would you have done if you started a race and failed a the very start?
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14
The gun went off, but the coxswain failed to hear it, starting the 1936 Summer Olympics' JV college rowing team off on a bad start in front of the world and the dangerous eyes of Adolf Hitler, whose presence gave the American team much to lose and the determination to win.
By some miracle, they had entered the Olympics—a JV University rowing sensation who had shot to the top of their sport by sheer grit and desire. The boys came from different backgrounds, several of whose only option for finishing school was the rowing team who fed and boarded them. Driven by the hope of a better life, they rowed themselves into the Olympics.
Despite the bad start, their drive to win the race caused the boys in the boat to make up for their mistake, out-row all the other elite teams, to bring home the gold. The American underdogs that year were a mix of race and color who pressed in with all their might to gain victory in the face of evil.
Paul’s language in this portion of scripture changes from bookkeeping to an athletic metaphor. In the last passage, he talks of the resurrection, which lies in the future, making it the prize at the end of the race; it draws us to press in and push on, not giving up or letting ourselves be overtaken or discouraged.
Paul also wanted the Philippian church to know that maturity is not the prize but the product of pressing toward the prize. He had not ‘arrived’ at his level of understanding or maturity. True maturity is knowing that you have not ‘arrived.’ There will always be more to learn and discover in our journey of faith. If we think we have our theology or doctrine all figured out, we will never be teachable. Nobody has God perfectly figured out. If we can position our hearts to be teachable and receptive to uncovering more of Him, we will position our hearts for true maturity.
The prize Paul describes in verse 14—like a trophy—is the upward call of God in Jesus. Paul never intended for us to translate this as ‘the ticket to get into heaven.’
Recently, I attended the funeral of a dear friend. She and her husband had lived long, good lives. They were missionaries for many years and were some of the youngest older people I knew- always loving on people and creating an atmosphere of joy in their home. They were indeed a joy. At her funeral, I hugged her husband and asked how he was. His response made me gape, “ I sure hope I have been a good enough Christian to get into Heaven to see my beautiful wife again.”
I quickly exclaimed, “Nonsense! Don’t even think that. You are in Christ. You WILL see her again!”
I was shocked to think that anyone who had known and experienced the love of God could ever doubt the security they had for their afterlife.
I believe many in the ‘church’ have misinterpreted Paul's meaning in this verse. Like my dear friend, we have considered that we must be well-behaved Christians to get to Heaven.
What Paul meant was not us going to heaven, but heaven coming to us. Getting to heaven is not the goal; it’s living heaven here on earth- this is the resurrection life. Eternal life is not a place; it is a person. Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 To have eternal life is to know that God loves you, that He is your peace, righteousness, and King. This is not something that we have to wait to die for. Instead, we have already died to our old selves and live in His resurrected life. We live in the present in light of fully knowing Him when our bodies finally die.
Paul's goal was to ‘overtake’ the present struggle of living on earth. Thankfully, Jesus overtook him. It was as if Jesus had said, “I’ll hold you while I run your race.” It has a double meaning if we grasp it. Paul is running, but it isn’t him running it—Jesus is running through him.
Our lives are not our own. Jesus laid hold of our value to make what was lost (sonship, unity, and relationship) a present reality. He restored us back to Himself.
We don’t strive to please God or behave well to reach Heaven. We live our lives knowing that we are hidden in Christ, and He is the one who is living through us. Jesus has taken hold of us, and we respond to his love and firm hold of us—He will never leave or forsake us.