October 2, 2024 -Press On to the Goal

ISAIAH 66:1-24

PHILIPPIANS 3:4-21

PSALM 74:1-23

PROVERBS 24:15-16

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Philippians 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul was the best of the best according to Jewish law and customs. According to worldly standards he was righteous and deserved honor. But none of that matters without Jesus. In fact many of the things that he thought he was doing "right" were to oppose condemn and destroy followers of Jesus. In the world today we can be tempted to look at all the things that we do and receive approval and adoration from people of the world and think that we are doing "right" but if we do it without faith in Christ, or in opposition to the progress of the gospel then it is all garbage.

Philippians 3:12 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.

Paul knew that he was far from perfect and that living for Christ was a goal to strive for. He did not waste time looking back and dwelling on the past and his sins. Instead he looks forward and pressed on toward his goal to live like Christ and be with Him. We have all done ungodly things. We all sin and no matter how far we get in our walk we will have times that we stumble. Instead of dwelling on those short comings keep your yeas straight ahead and on the goal. Keep your eyes on the finish line and Jesus who is there cheering you on. After all Jesus has already forgiven you so don't hold onto things that He has already covered with His blood because of His great love for you.