Memory Verse for March 28 - April 3 - Philippians 3:14

Comments on this week’s memory verse

Philippians 3:14 - I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

One of the most determined people I know is Dr. Mark Peters, Associate Professor in Music at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. Yes, he’s our son. That’s how I know how determined he is.

When in grade school he determined that he was going to ride his bike for a fund raiser. The distance he said he was going to ride made me nervous. I thought it was too far for a person his age. He was determined. He did it.

While in college Mark decided that he was going to pursue a Ph. D in classic musicology. It was a long road that took many years of classes, research, and writing. Much of this he did as a married man and father. He was determined. He did it.

The Apostle Paul was also a determined man. In Philippians 3:7-14, which we have been memorizing, Paul has stressed his commitment to the goal of one day being just like Christ (Romans 8:29). That was the prize that he was pressing towards. Along the way he was determined to be more like Christ each day. Nothing else mattered more to Paul.

Paul was determined to do all that was necessary to be like Christ. Are you?

MEMORY VERSE FOR MARCH 21-27 - Philippians 3:13

March 21 - 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,

I tend to forget the things that I should remember, and remember the things I should forget. I can easily forget to run an errand for my wife. I can just as easily remember a sad event from my past that would be best forgotten.

In this verse Paul is still referring to what God has apprehended him for, conformity to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29, 1 John 3:2-3). Because he would one day be like Christ when he saw Him face to face, Paul strove to be more like Him every day. This should be our desire as well.

In striving for Christ-likeness Paul realized that he could not hold on to the past. He had to forget the failures and hurts of the past. He had to simply confess the sins of the past and move on. He also had to forgive those who had hurt him in the past and move on.

Not only did Paul need to forget the failures of the past, he had to forget the successes too. Dwelling too much on past victories would distract him from moving forward towards more Christ-likeness.

In forgetting the past, Paul reached forward towards what was in front of him, being more like Christ each day. He didn’t hang on to the past but reached for the future! May we do the same!

Memory Verse for March 14-20 - Philippians 3:12

February 21 - Philippians 3:12 - 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.

You have probably met people who think they have “arrived” or are “perfect”. We picture a person like this saying, “I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.” Such people annoy us, but let’s make sure that we do not act the same way they do, thinking that we have arrived or are perfect spiritually.

The Apostle Paul was a very humble man. He realized that although God had done a great work in him (1 Timothy 1:15-16), he still wasn’t perfect. You might think that Paul would have been satisfied with what he had already achieved spiritually, but that wasn’t so. Paul knew that he wasn’t perfect yet.

Paul kept moving forward spiritually, not satisfied with what he had already accomplished. He did this so he could “…apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” As we have seen in Romans 8:29 and 1 John 3:2-3, Paul was apprehended or saved for the purpose of being Christ-like when he saw Jesus face to face. Paul kept striving to be more Christ-like each day.

Like Paul, let’s realize that we haven’t “arrived” yet. Let’s follow his example by striving to be more Christ-like until we really do arrive.