In my preparation for this weekend’s message, I was meditating on the passage in Philippians 3 where Paul clearly talks about the importance of “forgetting what lies behind” and “straining forward to what lies ahead”.
I have found that both of these are critically important in our spiritual journeys. Some of us are straining, but we’ve not been able to forget what was behind and therefore the baggage holds us in check. We feel like we’re putting forth way too much effort with very little to show for it. The reason is almost invariably that you are carrying something that you need to “forget” (forgive, give up, turn it over to the Lord).
On the other hand, without really straining, that is to engage your full effort (the picture is of an athlete who is reaching for the finish line with every muscle at full capacity), then you may not engage with the grace that God’s provided. Grace doesn’t mean that you need no effort; it means simply that your effort will bear fruit.
Here in our church, we’re seeing those things converge. People are forgetting some of the things they needed to let go of and more importantly, they are straining forward in grace to embrace a beautiful destiny that we know God’s created for us. I’m personally excited about it and trust that as you read along with me today you’ll find a similar application in your own life.
Have a blessed weekend,
Dr. Jay
I learned recently that only God can “forget” and “forgets” (Jeremiah 31:34). Knowing this, it’s freeing to contrast, like Paul, the past with the present and our future “glory” (2 Cor. 3:8, Col. 1:27). This is grace!
ReplyDelete