Philippians 3:12-16 – “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. 13 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, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.” NKJV

Many songs come to mind in thinking about the title of this devotional message, and many of them excuse our humanness and justify our sinfulness.  That is not my motivation in presenting this thought but rather the opposite.

Paul fully understood that he Was Not Perfect, but that did not prevent him from striving for the lofty goal.  He was driven by the ambition and desire to fully apprehend and comprehend the Lord’s Christ and walk in that knowledge and condition.  He had an approach that we would do well to consider; far too often, we do not follow this prescription and, thus, many of our difficulties.

• He Acknowledged His Deficiency.

He knew he had not arrived at the glorious state of perfection in Christ.  He knew that he would make mistakes, fail, and possibly hurt others in the process.

• He Had an Objective.

Reaching Spiritual Perfection was his ultimate desire.  He did not just want to accomplish that when he got to heaven but wanted to walk before this world unblemished in Christ, being the absolute best representative and manifestation of Jesus he could be and thereby win many.

• He Has His Thinking Right.

“…this one thing I do….”  What was that one thing?  FORGET those things that are behind or of the past life “before” Christ.  REACH for those things that are to be attained and achieved in Christ.  He PRESSED for the goal of the prize of the “Upward Call of God in Christ Jesus.”  It was always “upward” and “onward” in Christ.  Never stagnation, complacency, or looking back because to Paul and us, the past is history, and we must learn to put the past in God’s Hands of Mercy and move on.

• Then He Walked in What He Learned and Achieved.

He encouraged everyone to walk in the level of light and understanding they possessed.  Do not try to walk in mine; I will not try to walk in yours.  We are individuals.  We should assist each other in sharing our knowledge, experience, and level of light, but NEVER expect others to be EXACTLY LIKE US.  God does not need clones; He desires WARRIORS!

As you go through each day, learn to leave the mistakes, errors, misgivings, shortcomings, failures, and sins in the past.  Give them to the Savior and allow Him through the Holy Spirit to put them under the Blood of Jesus’ Sacrifice. 

Keep pressing on looking to the Author and Finisher of your faith!  Blessings as you go through your day!