These are some thoughts I have this morning, after reading Philippians 3. These thoughts are meant to be a reflection of where I am at. I am not writing a Bible commentary; rather, this is a commentary on Me.

Philippians 3 (NLT)

13 ... Forgetting the past {the past refers to who I am before I gave my LIFE to Jesus} and looking forward to what lies ahead {I look forward to the day when I will see Jesus face to face, for then I shall become like Him},

My past, before I gave my life to Jesus, before that 2nd year in college, was dominated by selfish living. In other words, every decision was all about me. Although not all bad, my decisions did not consider that God, the One who created me with purpose, had a plan for me.

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I press on - the connotation is purposeful, requires endurance and hard work.
To reach the end of the race - that day when I will see Jesus face to face. I imagine myself rather flat on the ground before Him, thankful to be in His presence, at complete peace.
Receive the heavenly prize - life with God, Almighty One, my creator.
God, through Jesus, is calling us - always through Jesus, only through Jesus, because of Jesus.

16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Progress? An interesting thing happens as my days number by; progress, though most assuredly there in the big picture of my life, is measured in grains of sand. Do I become tougher on myself? Do I "understand" God's HOLINESS more and more? I only know that I am much harder on myself with each passing year.

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

I am a citizen of heaven, even while I am a citizen of the USA. Dual citizenship. But the prevailing one (can anyone argue with this) is the eternal citizenship in heaven. My eyes see that place by faith. My heart knows, and longs for, that day. Not impatiently...I do not rush it. As I live here, appreciating my earthly citizenship, my mind needs to continually remember that my true authority is my Savior, Jesus.

21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Amen

God is good.