Philippians 3:13. “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,”
DON’T DWELL ON THE PAST. We won’t lose all memory of things done in the past Don’t dwell there, just leave them behind What has been done, is done, that’s a burden to cast On Him so that His rest we can find.
Now, we are to look ahead where there is a yoke to bear And our Master who says, “Learn of Me” – Calls us to stretch forth our arms right where we are We have been “apprehended” for this work we can see.
Effort is needed to fulfill this call This is not a time to look backward and quit Gratefully we trust Him who knows every fall And realize He wants us to get on with it.
The day is still light, there is work in the field A harvest is ripe; there are souls that are waiting For laborers to move out and bring what it yields Into a place of usefulness without hesitating.
Before the sun goes down and darkness descends Reach forward to what God has called you to He knows who you are; who did apprehend You and sent you out to do what you do.
Backward looks stop forward progress And time still doesn’t stop for any man Apply yourself; give the work your best You’ve been apprehended, now do for Him what you can.
“Gracious Father, I find joy in knowing Thou art aware of every aspect of my life and hast enabled me to serve Thee. Thanks for taking me for Thyself in spite of my weakness and inabilities. I know there are many who are more able. Make me a blessing to others in some way, I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
There is an underlying sense of dissatisfaction with his past as he presses ahead like a runner striving to reach the goal. Paul's goal was to know Christ intimately, to be like Christ personally, to be all that Christ wanted him to be practically. He had a single mind toward this goal. As far as we are concerned, the past has passed and let us leave it there. Looking back may only discourage us and make us ashamed of what we did or did not do. We need to concentrate on the present and our present and personal relationship with
God, not the past and our guilt. Faith and obedience now lead to a full and abundant life. Devotion to Christ instead of dissatisfaction will keep us going in the right direction.