Philippians 3:13-14 - No, dear brothers, I am still not all
I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I
strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling
us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
Paul understood and tried to help everyone grasp the concept
that God wants us to release the guilt and memories of our past…and cling to
the hope we have with God in our future.
He also knew the key to that was pouring all our energies into developing
the closest relationship we could with Christ.
Adam and Eve were not destroyed…they were punished and given
instructions to try again. The natural consequences of Moses running from his
past trained him to be a great leader when he realized the power of God in his
life. Jesus exposed the truth to the
woman at the well that she could release the habits that bound her to adultery and
use her testimony of meeting Him to change her whole community. David washed his face and put on new clothes ….showing
the world that his past mistakes were behind him and he accepted God’s answer
in the death of his child.
All of these people…and they are just a few examples from
the Bible… believed as Paul did. God uses us despite our mistakes…even because
of them. A relationship that daily meets
with God and studies His word results in strength to move past our mistakes….if…big
if….we make the choice to put the past behind us and let God take the steering
wheel the rest of our journey here on earth.
One last note…these people….they understood Paul’s words
here. They put all their energy into knowing
God as deeply as they could. They knew
that this relationship would be their salvation as they walked the roads they
were called to walk. Adam and Eve
embraced the hard labor they were given to bear. Moses picked up the rod that
God asked him to carry in leadership. The woman at the well ran with joy to
tell her community about the man who gave her living water that saved her from
a life of adultery. David accepted God’s choices in the life of his beloved
child…and worshiped God in spite of his sorrow.
Father…thank you for the reminder that we are not products
of our past…we are products of the decision in the present to follow you…and
the choices we make with you to give us hope for our future. Forgive me for the times that I have let my
past stop me from realizing that you have more for me. Help me to choose anew
each morning to follow you …putting all my energy into knowing you as deeply as
possible. Amen.
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