Welcome to another episode of Living in the Light: Navigating Life with Biblical Wisdom. I’m Pastor Michael, and I’m so glad you’re with me today. In this episode, we’ll be looking at an essential part of the Christian life—personal growth and spiritual maturity. The Apostle Paul gives us a powerful example of what it means to pursue growth in our relationship with Christ in Philippians 3:12-14. Growth in Christ doesn’t happen overnight, but it requires intentional effort, patience, and perseverance. Let’s dive into this passage and see what it teaches us about becoming more like Christ.

Opening Prayer:

Father, we thank You for this time to be in Your Word. We ask that You help us grow closer to You each day, that we may become more like Christ in every area of our lives. Give us understanding as we study Your Word, and help us to apply it to our daily walk. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Section 1: Pressing On Toward the Goal (Philippians 3:12-14)

Let’s begin by reading Philippians 3:12-14:

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

In these verses, Paul makes it clear that spiritual growth is a journey, not a destination. He says, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect." Paul, despite being a faithful servant of Christ, acknowledges that he has not yet reached perfection. The pursuit of knowing Christ more deeply is ongoing. It requires intentional effort, and Paul is fully committed to pressing on toward the goal.

This is such an encouraging message for us. Spiritual growth is not about achieving perfection or being flawless. Instead, it’s about striving every day to know Christ more intimately and to reflect His character more fully. Paul teaches us that personal growth and transformation come through continual effort, with our eyes fixed on the goal: becoming more like Christ.

Reflection Question:

What is one area in your life where you want to grow spiritually? How can you press on toward that goal with the same intentionality Paul describes?

Section 2: The Role of Forgetting What Lies Behind (Philippians 3:13)

Let’s take a closer look at Philippians 3:13:

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."

In order to press forward in our spiritual growth, we must forget what lies behind us. Paul specifically mentions that he does not allow his past—whether successes or failures—to hold him back from pressing forward. This is critical for personal growth in Christ: we cannot allow our past to define us.

This could be past mistakes, sins, or regrets. It could also be past achievements or comfort zones that keep us from taking bold steps of faith. The key here is that we cannot let the past, whether good or bad, prevent us from moving forward in our relationship with God. We must let go of anything that hinders our growth in Christ.

When Paul talks about forgetting the past, he is not saying that we should have no remembrance of it, but that we must not allow the past to control us. We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and our identity is found in Him, not in our past.

Reflection Question:

Is there an area of your past—whether a failure or success—that is hindering your growth in Christ? How can you let go of that and move forward with Christ?

Section 3: Spiritual Maturity is a Lifelong Journey (Philippians 3:14)

Now, let’s look at Philippians 3:14:

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul speaks of...