BIBLE READING PLAN
WEEK 2 – EXITING OUR PAST
DAY 4
In our readings this week, we’re focusing on the key idea from Exodus 2:
“Letting go of our past gives us room to receive God’s present plan.” Today, we will read about that from Philippians 3.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Reflection:Trusting in our past religious deeds (like how much we attend church, being baptized, ways we served someone) can hold us back from truly connecting with Jesus in the present.
- Are you trusting in any past religious deeds instead of Jesus Himself?
- How could you connect more with Jesus today?
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul outlines all the ways his past gave him reason to be justified before God and man. He had all the religious accolades (3:4-6). But when Jesus changed his life, he realized all those things were worth nothing (3:7). He wanted to know Jesus and he knew trusting in the past religious “success” was getting in the way of connecting with Jesus in the present.- What do you think are examples today of how people can trust in religious deeds instead of in Jesus himself?
- What are some reasons Paul gives in these verses for “forgetting what is behind”?
- Are there ways you are holding onto past successes instead of connecting with Jesus in the present and looking forward to the future reward?
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Reflection:Have you ever accomplished something that you had been working really hard towards? Maybe you finally beat that game you’ve been playing for months. Or maybe you finally won that championship game on your sports team. Or maybe you aced a test in school that you studied really hard for. It feels really good once you do that, doesn’t it? But after you do it, a few weeks go by… then a few months… and eventually, that feeling fades, doesn’t it? It was still a really cool thing that you did, and you’re still proud of it, but eventually you get a new game to beat, or the next sports season starts, or the next test is coming up, and the feeling of victory goes away. Accomplishments that we make in our life are really great things, and we should always keep trying to be better! But there is one thing in this world that lasts forever, and never fades. Jesus! Deciding to live our lives for Jesus is a victory that never leaves us! Jesus loves us just as much today as He did yesterday, and as He will tomorrow too! Just like it said in our Bible reading today, we should live our lives for the prize that God has called us to, Jesus! Because that accomplishment never fades.
- Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior, and decided to live your life for Him?
- If yes, are you just as excited about Jesus now as you were when you made that decision the first time? Why or why not?
- If no, do you think that is something that you want to do one day? Are you ready for it now?
- Talk about it as a family, and if you aren’t ready to do it now, that’s ok!
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14
Devotional:
In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul outlines all the ways his past gave him reason to be justified before God and man. But when Jesus changed his life, he realized all those things were worth nothing. He wanted to know Jesus and he knew his trusting of the past religious “success” was getting in the way of connecting with Jesus in the present.
- What do you think are examples today of religious deeds can people trust in instead of in Jesus himself?
- Are there ways you are holding onto past successes instead of connecting with Jesus in the present and looking forward to the future reward?
Reading: Philippians 3:1-14
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14
Devotional:
In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul outlines all the ways his past gave him reason to be justified before God and man. But when Jesus changed his life, he realized all those things were worth nothing. He wanted to know Jesus and he knew his trusting of the past religious “success” was getting in the way of connecting with Jesus in the present.
- What do you think are examples today of religious deeds can people trust in instead of in Jesus himself?
- Are there ways you are holding onto past successes instead of connecting with Jesus in the present and looking forward to the future reward?
