Scripture:
Philippians 3:12-16 ESV
[12] Not that I have already obtained this or am 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: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Observation:
Paul explained that it’s a never-ending process. That you never really arrive. I mean, it would be nice to be perfect, but that won’t happen until we meet with Jesus in glory. However, what is also being said is that we must push forward. Just because the goal seems to be unobtainable doesn’t mean we don’t try. I believe what Paul is saying is we forget our past mistakes and press on. Paul does not want the Philippines to live in the past. There is no time for all that. They had to keep looking forward. The past was gone. It was time to move on. There is a prize to be obtained. The upwards call of GOD.
Application:
I woke up in the middle of the night with this scripture in my heart. So I thought I should write about it. GOD’S grace is so absolutely amazing. Letting go of the past will keep us from focusing on all our mistakes and malfunctions in life. I have often thought of it like this. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift… that is why they call it the present. Another analogy I like to use is this: when you are driving, you have a big windshield and a small rearview mirror. That’s because we need to pay more attention to where we are going and only make sure we are putting distance between where we have been. This, however, does not mean we leave a wake of destruction behind us. My point is we have to try to make today better than yesterday without letting yesterday’s mistakes weigh us down. Guilt and shame were not GOD’S intentions it was our choice. We made it in the garden. I believe the key is to not live in it, but press on through it. GOD has a plan for you that you will never fully realize if you are stuck in your past. We have to press on making today better than yesterday. GOD’S plan is for our future, so let’s pay attention to that.
Prayer:
Father, we trust you and know that you have thrown our past into the depths of the sea. Thank you for that. You are so amazing. Father, we pray that every time the enemy reminds of our past that you remind him of his future in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen