Straining Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already lobtained this or mam already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: nforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for othe prize of the upward pcall of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are qmature think this way, and if in anything ryou think otherwise, sGod will reveal that also to you. 16 Only tlet us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, ujoin in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk vaccording to the example you have in us. 18 For wmany, of whom I have often told you and now tell you xeven with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 yTheir end is destruction, ztheir god is their belly, and athey glory in their shame, with bminds set on earthly things. 20 But cour citizenship is in heaven, and dfrom it we eawait a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform four lowly body gto be like his glorious body, hby the power that enables him even ito subject all things to himself.
1 Therefore, my brothers,1 whom I love and jlong for, kmy joy and lcrown, mstand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my dshepherd; I shall not ewant.
2 He makes me lie down in green fpastures.
He leads me beside still waters.1
3 He grestores my soul.
He hleads me in ipaths of righteousness2
for his jname’s sake.
4 Even though I kwalk through the valley of lthe shadow of death,3
I will mfear no evil,
for nyou are with me;
your orod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You pprepare a table before me
in qthe presence of my enemies;
you ranoint my head with oil;
my scup overflows.
6 Surely4 goodness and mercy5 shall follow me
all the days of my life,
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him cdeny himself and dtake up his cross and follow me. 35 For dwhoever would save his life1 will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake eand the gospel’s will save it. 36 fFor what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
