Philippians 3:13-4:1, Second Sunday in Lent, Year C

Paul's great desire here is to know Christ. He presses on toward that goal, rejecting or leaving behind what is in the past and moving toward the knowledge of Christ;. Paul's approach to spiritual growth is realistic, but single-minded. His life story is a powerful reminder that no matter what we have done or how bad we are, we must press ahead toward the goal of knowing Christ. This attitude is in sharp contrast to the libertinism and Sensuality of some who claim to be preaching in the name of Christ. Paul is not claiming perfection when he desires other Christians to imitate him; but he would urge them--and us--at least to take note of the "good guys," the ones who put Christ ahead of self. Know which ones are more interested in their own gain than in the advance of the kingdom. Take note of those who use grace as license. Many pastors today truly love the flock; but others may be enemies of the cross, even though they profess belief. If we set our minds on the things of Christ, we are truly citizens of heaven. We can be expecting the Saviour, and rejoicing in that hope. Today, we talk a lot about commitment--to church, to denomination, to family, to all sorts of things. It is good to remember that Paul's commitment was to Christ--the Christ as revealed to him on the Damascus Road and through Scriptures of the Old Testament and in his own personal encounters and instruction from those first disciples.