Philippians 3:5-20 - New Year Reset, 2022

Perhaps you have a GFCI outlet in your home. They have their own, built-in circuit breaker and are often installed in bathrooms so that if there's a hairdryer or shaver that falls into a sink full of water, the power goes off in the outlet. Once the problem is resolved, a reset button allows electricity to flow through the outlet once again.

The beginning of a New Year can be a time to do a reset. Some people take that to mean that they have to forget the past and just move on with life, like pushing a GFCI reset button.

However, in writing to the Philippians, Paul recalls his past life: the good and the bad (vv.5-6). He goes on to say that his old life was a heap of manure compared to life once he experienced the reset: Jesus being in charge of his new life (v.8).  

He was so excited about this reset, he said,
"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:10–11, New Living Translation, 2015)

Then what does Paul mean when he said,
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead..." (Philippians 3:13a, New International Version, 1984)

Obviously, Paul's memory had not been erased, but the future totally eclipsed the past:
"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:14, NLT) The prize is Jesus Himself (v.20).

Father, you know our past: the good and the bad. Steer us from being stuck there. Fill this new year with hope. Fill our hearts with a passion to follow Christ to the end of the race. By His suffering and in His resurrection power we pray, Amen.