Philippians 3:17-19 (The Message)
“Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.”
If you are a parent, you have probably had a moment when your kids wanted to follow friends who were making choices you knew were not good for them. You set boundaries, not to control them, but because you love them and want what is best. You want them to stay on the right path, even when other paths look easier or more fun in the moment.
In Philippians 3:17-19, Paul strongly urges Christian believers to stay focused and stick with him in pursuing Jesus Christ as the only goal of our spiritual life. Paul’s directness comes from his deep concern that some people would get detoured by taking other paths, distracted by choosing other goals, or even worse, believe they could reach heaven by following an “easy street” that rejects the cross of Christ.
To keep us from drifting, Paul challenges us to stay focused and walk alongside other believers who are running the same race. He tells us to “keep track of those” who are following Christ with their whole hearts, using their example to encourage us to keep pressing forward.
This week, let us not get detoured, distracted, or led down a dead-end road. Let us stay completely focused and stick with pursuing Jesus Christ as our only goal. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.