Philippians 3:12-21
Live In The Present

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 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. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

In the first verses of this chapter Paul looks at himself as an accountant summing up his life as a believer with the words, “I count.” Then in verse 12 through 16 he speaks as an athlete in a race and says, “I press” – as one who is running for the goal. In the last verses he compares himself to an alien who is living away from home in a colony of people who are looking for the Savior – “I look.” In each of these views of the lives of God’s people we can see who we are and learn what is important about our present life. Our goal needs to be clear and plain before us. It is the challenge for us to be like Paul. He knew he had been captured by God to be a pattern-believer so that through him God could show us what He can do with one human life that is devoted to Him.

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