But One Thing I do…
I am not a big sports person. I rarely watch sporting events but there is one exception – the Olympics. I remember doing a presentation on the Olympics when I was in High School. As a teen I knew the names of all the gymnasts and ice skaters as well as the names of their incredible moves. I still marvel at the training, discipline, talent and skill that the athletes bring to the competition. The hours and years of work that come down to one or two events. I love that persons from all over the world come together. Watching the Olympics always brings to mind “But one thing I do.” To achieve the level of expertise that Olympic athletes display, they have done one thing and done it well. Lord, may I have that kind of single focused devotion to you.
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. Philippians 3:13-14
In Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi, he reminds us to forget what is past, reach forward and press on.
Forget what is past. James Montgomery Boice in Philippians: An Expositional Commentary states: “He (Paul) knew that all he had to value in his life came through the grace of God manifested in Jesus Christ…It is the kind of forgetting that occurs when we cease to let things that are past overshadow the present, that lets the past be the past, both the good and the bad, and that constantly looks forward to the work that God still has for us.”
Reach Forward. Mother Theresa in A Gift for God states: “Our progress in holiness depends on God and ourselves – on God’s grace and on our will to be holy. We must have real living determination to reach holiness.”
Press on. John Wesley states: “Always remember the essence of Christian holiness is simplicity and purity: one design, one desire: entire devotion to God.”
In light of the Olympics I would say Philippians 3: 13 could be translated “shake it off, reach for the gold and go for it.” Remembering that the Olympics is called The Games maybe everyday life is more important place to heed Paul’s words.
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. Philippians 3:13-14
I love watching the Olympics. Great word today. ?
Great reminder to forget what is the past and looking toward the goal. May I always focus on Him instead of my circumstances.