1.A NEW COUNTING: "…Yea, I count, all things but loss for the excellency of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord…" was Paul's statement in Phil.3: 7-8. In view of the surpassing excellence of the beauty and the glory of the Lord, all that is earthly appears as nothing. The perspective of the heavenly pilgrim has to change regarding the things of this world if He has to reach unto those of above. For Paul, the very sight of the true goal reduced all the temporal vanities of this world to nothing but dung-that which is useless, valueless and worthless, meant only for rejection. Even our own lives should not be any more dear to us (Ac20: 24) in order to press toward the mark. And as we do so, we need to have something new-

2. A NEW CONVICTION: "… to be found in Him, not having my own righteousness but that which is through the faith of Christ.(Phil.3:9). That is to be willing to discard the filthy rags of self-righteousness (Is64:6)and be clothed upon by the Divine righteousness through faith in Christ. Recognizing our own wretchedness and sinfulness and seeing how unworthy we are, drives us to seek the robe of righteousness that qualifies us to walk with the King. Oh, what a grace! It must be a daily appropriation by His people through true conviction and confession for godly living in this world,

3. A NEW COMMITMENT: "...that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil.3:10). Having known the Lord so intimately for so long, Apostle Paul yet expresses his undying desire to know Him! 0h, the depth of His Person! Yes, there is always more and more to know of Him who is so Wonderful and altogether Lovely. What has been your experience with the Lord? How far have you known Him? Make now a new commitment to seek and to know Him in a new way and to experience His resurrection power afresh and to share in His sufferings joyfully to reach the goal.This leads us to a challenge that we can not ignore;

4. A NEW CHALLENGE: "....But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are "behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark.. .'Phil.3: 13-14. I believe its a challenge to forget the things that one so long enjoyed himself living in them so intimately. But it is inevitable to reach the goal. The Lord Jesus reminded His disciples about Lot's wife, who was not willing to forget the past and thus became a stationary pillar of salt. No doubt it is so painful and difficult to forget the past but it must be done to avoid becoming unmovable pillars of salt that keep the pilgrim away from the City of Light. Praise God, it is possible, since we have an Inspiring Example in Christ Himself, to take up this challenge and to face it with the victory and courage as we are exhorted and encouraged in Hebrews ch 12:1-2, thus,