I seem to have gotten ahead of schedule for the 26 verses when I thought I was catching up from getting a late start. So as a bonus, here is one of my favorite verses from my Navigator days which I’ll ‘shoehorn’ into our January theme, “New Year’s Resolutions.”
Philippians 3:13-14 – Narrow Your Focus
Let’s look at each of the parts individually.
I. “One thing I do…” Paul is emphasizing his single-minded focus on Christ and the calling he received above everything else in his life. In the previous verse, he indicated how he had not yet achieved that goal:
Not that I have already obtained this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on in order to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
Philippians 3:12
In the Navs, they used “This one thing I do” (NASB) to say that we can do many things so-so, or we can narrow our focus and do one thing well, and that “one thing” we should be doing is being disciples of Jesus Christ.
II. “…forgetting what lies behind…”
Paul isn’t talking about amnesia, but the idea of the Greek word is “purposefully dismissing.” So, Paul means we should ‘intentionally dismiss’ the past from our thoughts in order to focus on what’s ahead in our lives. Those things in the past that might keep you from going ahead could be bad things or good things.
1. Past problems, failures and sins: Don’t let guilt or shame from the past cripple you. Rely on Christ’s forgiveness for your past mistakes and shortcomings. Another place where a running analogy is used to communicate a similar message is Hebrews 12:1-2:
‘Forgetting what is behind’ is Paul’s way of saying, “Don’t look back!” “Stop dwelling on the past!” In other words, don’t let anything behind you interfere with what is in front of you; that is, making forward progress in the practice of your faith.
2. Past glories/achievements: Don’t become complacent and rely on past achievements in your life to carry you forward as a Christian. Paul said this about himself in Philippians 3:3-8 (amplified):
If someone thinks they have something to brag about in this life, I have even more!”
“I was born an Israelite, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews.”
“I was a Pharisee and lived in strict obedience to the Law. I was so zealous for the Jewish faith that I persecuted the church. And as far as the righteousness based on obedience to the Law–I was faultless.”
“But whatever things that were of benefit to me then, I now consider them as lost(gone, disappeared, no longer a part of my life) for the sake of knowing Christ.”
“What is more, I consider everything a loss (a detriment, a hindrance, valueless), because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
“For whose sake I have purposefully lost all things (kicked to the curb, forgotten about, dropped like a bad habit).”
“I now consider all those praiseworthy things to be garbage (trash, rubbish, junk) to be thrown away (discarded, cast aside, gotten rid of) that I may gain Christ in their place.” (Philippians 3:4–8, amplified)
Do you have something–whether good or bad–in your past that is holding you back from further spiritual growth? If you’re not sure, use your time during the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting to seek an answer from God. When you find something, drop it like a hot potato!
III. “…reaching forward to what is ahead…”
Paul uses the analogy of an athlete running a race to win a prize as an illustration of how we should focus forward in our walk as a Christian.
Now, I don’t run any more, I can’t even walk fast, but as I near the finish line in my life’s race, it seems…
The way upward grows steep,
as I near the end.
The goal is closer,
but seems further away.
As I look upward to the finish line,
I see heaven waiting for me.
(Bill Crews, Jan. 2026)
When it comes to walking or running, our bodies tend to move in the direction our eyes are looking. This tendency was portrayed in Chariots of Fire. When Abraham looked to his left to see what the other lead runner was doing, that caused him to slow down enough to miss first place.
With this tendency in mind, Paul urges believers to stop looking back at the past and focus forward on God’s future goals. The Christian life is to be lived with our eyes focused on Jesus Christ. If we focus on Jesus through devotional time, praying, studying and discussing the Bible, worship and Christ-centered fellowship, then we will naturally move toward Him.
Paul expressed his version of this focus just a couple of verses before in Philippians 3:10–
Philippians 3:10 (expanded)
“I want to become as much like Jesus as is possible while on this Earth.
• I want to experience first-hand the power of His resurrection,
• I want to personally share in the same kinds of sufferings,
• I want to be changed until I’m just like Him–willing to sacrifice myself for the sake of the gospel.
Whew! Lofty goals. I certainly have very, very far to go before I’m ready to strive for even one of these.
IV. “…I press on toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul’s analogy of making a determined effort to grow in holiness and knowledge of Christ is inspired by the image of an athlete in a race, straining and running with all their might to reach the finish line first.
Our ultimate goal is the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. This ‘prize’ is growth in intimacy with Jesus Christ and the experience of eternal life. Another place where Paul talks about the upward focus is Colossians 3:1–
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”. Colossians 3:1
Paul urges us to focus our desires and priorities on heavenly, eternal realities rather than temporary earthly concerns.
“My utmost for His highest” is from a famous quote and the title of a widely read Christian devotional by Oswald Chambers, a Scottish evangelist, expressing the same total, undivided commitment to God as Paul’s:
“Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only—My utmost for His highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him, and Him alone.“ Oswald Chambers
So, as you seek to develop resolutions in this New Year to improve your walk as a Christian, remember Paul’s example in Philippians 3:13-14–And narrow your focus!
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