7I used to think all these things were to my credit, and yet now I have Christ I realise I gained nothing from them.8-9So I now regard those things as worthless compared to the greatest privilege of all, of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For His sake I left everything of the past behind and considered those things rubbish, so that I could have Christ and live in Him. Seeking my own righteousness through obeying the law was futile when compared to the righteousness I have now through faith in Christ. This is the true righteousness that comes as a gift from God and can only be received through faith in Christ.10-11I want to know Christ and His resurrection power. I am prepared to be at one with Him by sharing in His sufferings. Like Him, I am ready to die for the truth and then somehow by His power be raised from the dead.Aim for the prize12I do not claim to have received all that God has for me, neither have I yet been made perfect. But I am always moving forward to take hold of everything that Christ Jesus had planned to give me when He laid hold of my life.13My brothers, I know I have not yet appropriated everything; but I maintain my focus. So I forget what lies behind me in the past and I reach out with longing for what lies ahead.14Yes, I press on towards my goal, which is to gain the prize that God has for me when He calls me home to heaven in unity with Christ Jesus.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)