Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14
Have you ever WISHED for amnesia? While it is possible in movies, in real life it is not likely you will forget who you are, or your past. In your journey of faith, remembering and forgetting in the right context are important tools for developing spiritual strength.
Many encountering God for the first time find the truth that He forgives failures and sins, putting them as far as the east is from the west and completely forgetting them, a challenging concept! The challenge comes from this not being a human response, but a completely divine one. God’s unconditional mercy for a repentant soul humbles human pride and goes against every worldly sense of justice.
Forgiven people KNOW they do not deserve it, and it fills them with gratitude. Yet the forces of darkness attempt to use that very blessing, God’s amazing grace, against you! If you focus on the failures and sins of your past, you take on the shame Christ has already borne on your behalf. Until you decide to fully accept God’s gift of reconciliation and release what He has already forgotten, you will struggle to see wonderful new things ahead: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isiah 43:18-19).
Let go of the past, so you will be able to see new blessings ahead. Pray for America as a nation to do the same, letting go of bygone divisions and hurt. Ask God for leaders with a vision for a new day of blessing to come.
Today’s Verse: Philippians 3:13-14
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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
