It is so tempting to hover in our lives at a place that is comfortable. Even if the place one is hovering in is a bad place, it is often easier to languish than it is to press on. Paul told the Philippians that they had to press on. they had to forget what was in the past. In other words, do not live in nostalgia of the glorious days of yesteryear! We always look back fondly but often forget each part of life has had its struggles. No matter the trial or pressure, Paul encourages us to press and strain forward to reach the goal of becoming like Christ.
In addition, do not become attached to this world and this culture. This simply is not our home. Life hear is temporal, self-centered and the culture Godless. Our citizenship is elsewhere! We are citizens of Heaven. Christ rose to give us that. He is preparing a place for us that is eternal and perfect. So we live as citizens of eternity, not as if tomorrow is all that we have. We make the most of our life, but, never think that this is as good as it gets. We recognize this world is self-centered, Godless and proud of it. We should never fit in. While we are here, we need to live as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We implore others to know the Lord and we live lives that honor Him. That was Paul’s example and that was Christ’s example. Help me, Lord, to make it my example.
God Bless You
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
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