Our reading from Philippians 3 contains some of the most encouraging and challenging words that Paul ever wrote:

“Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 3:13–14)

Paul’s words are remarkable because they come from someone who had every reason to feel that he had already achieved enough. He had planted churches, preached the gospel across great distances, and endured hardship for his faith. Yet he says, “I press on.” The Christian life is not a site that we reach and then settle into. It is a journey of continual growth in faith, love, and discipleship. There is always more to learn about God, more of God’s grace to receive, and more opportunities to serve Christ in the world.

Paul begins by acknowledging his own incompleteness. “Not that I have already obtained all this,” he says. There is humility in those words. Paul knows that he is still being shaped by God’s Spirit. He has not become perfect, and he does not pretend otherwise. This can hopefully be reassuring for us. It is tempting to compare ourselves with others and to then feel inadequate in who we are. We may look back over our lives and see mistakes, failures, missed opportunities, or regrets. We may wonder whether we have done enough or whether we have somehow fallen behind in our faith. Paul reminds us that Christian discipleship is about our direction and orientation. The important question is not whether we are finished products but rather whether we are still moving towards and with Christ.

Paul also speaks about “forgetting what is behind”. He does not mean erasing memories or pretending the past never happened. Rather, he means refusing to allow the past to define our future. For some people, the past is a burden of failure. Old mistakes can weigh heavily upon us. We replay them in our minds and wonder what might have been. Yet the Gospel tells us that in Christ there is forgiveness, grace, and the possibility of a new beginning in him.

For others, the past may be a source of pride. We remember former successes, positions held, achievements accomplished, or times when faith seemed stronger and life seemed easier. Yet even good memories can become stumbling blocks if we spend all our energy looking backwards. Paul urges us to keep our eyes fixed on what God is doing now and what God is calling us to become.

The image Paul uses is that of a runner straining towards the finish line. Anyone who has watched a race knows that runners do not spend their time looking over their shoulders. Their attention is focused on the goal ahead. They keep going, even when they are tired, because they know what they are aiming for.

Many of us know what it feels like to become weary. We may be carrying concerns about family, health, work, finances, or the future. The challenges facing our communities and our world can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are moments when pressing on seems difficult. Yet Paul does not tell us to press on through our own strength. He says that he presses on because Christ Jesus has first made him his own. The foundation of the Christian life is not our effort but God’s grace. We persevere because we belong to Christ. We keep going because Christ walks with us. We continue because God’s faithfulness is greater than our weakness.

This message is especially important for the Church today. It can be tempting to dwell on what has changed or what has been lost. We may look back to previous generations and remember fuller congregations or different circumstances. But the call of the gospel is not to live in the past. God is still at work. The Holy Spirit is still moving. Christ is still calling people to follow him. As Methodist people, we are heirs of a tradition that has always emphasised growth in grace. John Wesley spoke of going on to perfection, not as a claim that we have arrived, but as an invitation to keep growing in love for God and neighbour. The journey continues throughout our lives.

Paul’s words invite us to look forward with hope. We do not need to be trapped by past failures. We do not need to cling to past successes. Instead, we are called to trust the God who is leading us onwards as we press on.