"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."--Philippians 3:10-14
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. Then 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. We must stay focused! Living the focused life by the example and teaching of the apostle Paul. Philippians 3:10-14 gives us a focus for our life – a spiritual focus.
Paul said “this one thing I do”, not “a hundred things I start” or “a dozen things I attempt” – but “one thing I do”. Paul says he is putting all his energy into this one thing – “pressing toward the mark”. Sometimes I struggle with this concept.
I don’t know about you, but I get involved in too many projects and end up doing less than my best with many of them, at times. I recently read a German proverb by my desk: “He who begins too much accomplishes little.” A study of Paul’s focused life will help us all.
Look at Philippians 3:10-11, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”; 11 “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead”.
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 still longed for a deeper and richer knowledge. Paul wanted to know everything about Jesus. He wanted to know the power of His resurrection. You see, Paul wants to know the power or strength available to the Christian through the resurrection of the Lord.
Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”.
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. Look at what Paul wrote in Galatians 6:17, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus”. Through suffering for the cause of Christ, Paul came to understand more clearly what the Lord had suffered for him. Do we realize what Jesus has done for us?
Paul’s desire to know Christ more fully had at least four facets: that I may know Him (a personal experience), and the power of His resurrection (a powerful experience), and the fellowship of His suffering (a painful experience), being conformable unto His death (a practical experience)
Paul looked forward to the time when he could know Christ fully. Read with me Philippians 3:12-14, Paul stated he had not attainted, so he follows after that I may apprehend, I forgetting those things which are behind, he forgot his past, his successes and his failures. Brothers and sisters, we cannot rely on our past.
Paul did not spend his time regretting – he repented and moved forward. Many today allow the past to destroy their present and future. The bible says in Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
When we dwell on the past, we many times become distracted and discouraged. In Philippians 10:13 Paul said, “this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before”. Here Paul’s intensity is seen – he had a great desire to reach his spiritual goal.
Let’s read verse 14. What was Paul reaching for? 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 possibly can.
Paul was confident that they would get the instruction they needed to make the proper decisions – he was confident that the others would soon learn better. To be spiritually united we must have a common authority – God’s Word. God’s will for us will be plain if we will obediently adhere to His written word.
Living the focused life finds us. We must stay focused on the spiritual task before us, many matters in life are important, but none are as important as following Jesus. May God continue to bless and keep you, praying for his direction to live a focused life. Amen.
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