Philippians 3:4-14 (NRSV)
Read Philippians 3:4-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: Verse 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; Verse 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Verse 7Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. Verse 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Verse 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. Verse 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, Verse 11if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Verse 12Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Verse 13Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, Verse 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Devotion
The running of what is called "the most beautiful urban marathon in America," Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, is fast approaching on Oct. 2. Anyone who has run the 26.2 mile race will tell you it is their favorite. Most of the course is run through stunning neighborhoods, parks, rivers and lakes. However, there are many hills along the course and so it is not the easiest race to run, especially when the last seven miles are all uphill. In today's lesson, Paul uses the image of a race to describe our life. A runner who mistakes the half-way mark for the finish and stops there, saying "I made it!" will drop out of the race. Paul refreshingly admits he has not made it to the finish line. He is not perfect and neither are we. We are running a race jam-packed with hills. But, unlike your typical race, we are being carried up and over hills when needed, through all the aches and pains and finally through magnificent scenery to a perfect future.
Prayer
No matter what hills of life we are experiencing, remind us of our life together in Jesus. In spite of so many obstacles, give us the strength to live faithfully to the gospel.
Amen.