Philippians 3:13-14, “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, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Something struck me about these verses this morning. Paul was in prison when he wrote them. Why is that important you ask?

He is forgetting all that is behind and looking ahead. He is wanting to press toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus while he is in prison. To obtain the full context, read the entire chapter.

This hit me in a “new way,” though. Here are some things I have been thinking about with it:

1. He tells in the chapter before how zealous he had been previously in his “faith,” before he came to Christ. He tells all the reasons that he could boast before. How often do we think of all our accomplishments (or dreams or goals or whatever) before our disability or chronic illness hits? How often do we think that all is lost now because we can’t do as we did before? (Conversely, how often do we dwell on our past in a bad way as well given we have so much time on our hands? Sigh… guilty.)
2. He goes on to say that all of those things are being counted loss to him now. In fact, he counts them dung now. Those are some pretty strong words. He had been quite famous before and high up in the religious order. He had accomplished much. Now, this is as refuse to him. Why? Jesus Christ and knowing Him is greater than all of those things. Look at these verses: “⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Nothing compares to Jesus. Did you get that? Knowing Jesus is greater. How much has our spiritual life, our relationship with God grown since our chronic illness or disability? How much more do we need to lean on Him?
3. He realizes that he is not perfect now, but he is focused on Christ. Jesus is all that matters to Him. He is in prison, but all he is focused on is Jesus Christ and how to serve Him.
4. What Paul writes in verses 13-14 stopped me in my tracks. Paul is in prison and yet he is focused on serving our Savior and pressing toward the high calling of God. Most would say that his ministry was over when he entered prison. Not Paul. Many would say that our ministry may be over when chronic illness and disability hit. I mean, come on, we live in isolation much of the time. But Jesus has a plan for our isolation, chronic illness, and disability. We can still press toward the mark of the high calling of God. We can still live for Jesus, grow in our relationship with God, and serve Him in meaningful and purposeful ways!

Whew! My heart is stirred and rejoicing today. This week, let’s meditate on these verses (this chapter) and ask God to show us how He can work through our isolation, how we can know Him more, and how we can glorify Him!

May we press toward the mark even in our disability, even in the isolation. May we see Jesus Christ and growing in our relationship with Him as most important.