I read a daily devotion from Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby pretty much everyday. If you have not been able to go through their bible study called "Experiencing God" I highly recommend it.
Here is the one for Nov 10
Brethen, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting these things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Phil 3:13
The world will tell you that the dominating influence, in your life is your past. If you came from a difficult home, that will determine the direction of your life. If your culture was treated unfairly, that will dictate the condition of your life today. If you were hurt or abused or if your youth was spent in rebellion, the remainder of your life will be spent struggling with your past.
Christians, on the other hand, live in freedom to because Christ has overcome our past. The "old things" have been done away with and the "new things" have come (2 Cor 5:17). God has so totally forgiven the Christians's sin that He chooses not to remember it (Isa. 43:25). Christians do not forget the past, but we are not controlled or motivated by it. The Christian looks to the future with hope.
The people of the world focus on what they are overcoming. Christians focus on what they are becoming. Christians know that the Holy Spirit is conforming them into the image of Christ. Chrisitans know that eventually every injustice will be addressed and every hurt comforted. They know that Satan, and death itself , will finally be brought to an end. The Christians's future is so full and rich and exciting that is supersedes whatever happended in the past.
If you are preoccupied with your past, ask God to open your eyes to the incredible future that awaits you and begin, like Paul, to press on to what is ahead.
This really struck me today that we live in and have become this society. I challenge all that read this BLOG to change that thinking to live as Christ would want us to, and become what he wants you to become and stop trying to overcome something that you cannot and will not change your past!
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2 comments:
Good message, Dad. I don't like to make mistakes, and when I do, I stew and stew over it for days. Wouldn't it be so refreshing if I could just choose to move on focus on doing better in the future?! I wouldn't mind reading more of your thoughts after your daily "reading time" if you have time to post them.
Nice background by the way!
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