Philippians 3

Paul urges them to continue on, like in a race he urges that some have fallen away because they loved the things of this world too much.

Fellow Christians, if we stop actively living a holy life we will soon fall away, get funny in our beliefs. We would add or subtract something from the gospel. Some new idea would take the place of the cross. The cross is still offensive to some and a stumbling block to others.

Sometimes a cause, perhaps good on it's own gets in front of God and becomes a god itself. For some environmentalism is that way. I think for me it is getting involved in too much diverting stuff like sports, reading, movies, or computers. They are less than reality. I am tempted to back off from life.

Paul says to continue. We never get it perfect or completed until God calls us home. We must press forward keep trying, keep seeking, keep serving. But we know the service is not god, we do it for God, not for itself alone, whatever it is that God has called us to.

We are called to serve as Paul served, as Jesus served. Paul tells them to look at him, at Timothy, at Epaphroditus as role models. Remember they did not have the Bible yet. They needed role models. Paul is simply being practical, not proud, in offering himself as a role model. He told them of Jesus but they could not see him. They could see Paul and the other leaders.