RUN WITH ENDURANCE! Philippians 3:12-4:1 Introduction: The Philadelphia Marathon is just a few weeks away. I will not be running this year (nor have I ever, nor do I plan to in the future!). My son-in-law will be running, and my younger brother has run six times in the past. I’ve adapted the title of my message to the coming marathon, as Paul uses the imagery of running, pressing on, and enduring in the Christian life. As we are getting to the end of Philippians, we see an emphasis, in these final admonitions, on Paul’s concern for practical Christian living. Perilous times will come! In the light of the Gospel, how then should we live? Paul frequently uses several “athletic metaphors,” like “fighting the good fight” or “running a race with endurance.” The paragraph today uses the imagery of a runner, pushing toward the finish line, striving with every fiber to win the race set before him. Context: Paul has just urged the Philippians to guard the truth of the Gospel and to not fall i