Philippians 3  I need to hear this.. again.. just like the people of the Philippian church needed to hear it again.. it is important to walk in the Truth and not get distracted by anything that takes us away from the true purpose that God has for us.. 

As Paul reminds us.. " we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh."  Our faith is in Christ alone.. not in any works that we might do.. not in any heritage we might have.. not in any laws that we might keep.  Paul says that he has "counted as loss.... as rubbish.. " all those things that he once took pride in.. because they were nothing compared to having Christ. 

Only Jesus can provide true righteousness. ( v9)

Only Jesus has the power of resurrection. (v10)

Only Jesus.. 

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (v14)  Paul entreats his readers to have this "same attitude".. this same way of thinking.. this same desire to live according to this standard.. "our citizenship is in heaven from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (v20-21) 

This is our goal.. as followers of Christ.. to leave everything else behind.. all the "earthly things" ..  because what He has for us is worth so much more.. so keep "reaching forward to what lies ahead"!

Father, O that we will walk in this truth.. knowing that all this world offers will pass away.. but, Your Word will never pass away.. and we can "lay hold of that for which... " we were "laid hold of by Christ Jesus."  He is coming again.. He will transform us.. He will take us Home!  May we be found in Him, in faith, in righteousness, walking the power of His resurrection... the fellowship of His suffering.. being conformed to His death... so that we might also "attain to the resurrection from the dead."  We are pressing onward.. help us to keep reaching forward!  In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.