Press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called
Philippians 4:4-14
4 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the
flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to
the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for
righteousness based on the law, faultless.
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.
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 towards what is ahead, 14 I press on
towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenwards in Christ Jesus.