When Forgetting is a Good Thing!



I Ki. 13, 14; 2 Chr. 12; Phil. 3

Scripture
Philip. 3:13-14 “… But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Click on this verse and it should send you to a neat website that you can use for your Bible study)


Observation

Paul is in jail as he writes this letter and even though he has had a lot of time to dwell on the things in the past he says, “But the one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind”. He was forgetting about his being a Hebrew of Hebrews. He was forgetting about his education and preparation as a Pharisee. He was pressing ahead with one goal in mind. He mentions this goal in verse 10, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

Application

God has given Kathy and me some wonderful experiences over the past 36 years of our marriage and He has allowed some experiences that were not so wonderful. He has permitted us to live in several different cultures, in several different places of the world (Texas …which was probably the hardest to get used to, and then Mexico, and Spain). We have had the opportunity to work with the peoples of Mexico, Spain, North Africa, and Cuba since being appointed with the IMB in 1984. But our goal is not to be found by living in the past. Kathy and I must to press ahead towards the goal! Our goal is to know Christ better and better and experience the power of his resurrection!


Prayer
Heavenly Father, help us not to focus on things of the past! Help us to press ahead to the future. We want to know Christ! Help us to die to self and live for you. Thank you for the power to live this life that you have called us to. Thank you for bringing us to where we are at right now and help us to remember that our citizenship is in Heaven. Help us to forget the unimportant things and concentrate on the stuff that really counts.

Pastor Wayne Cordeiro's Daily Bible Reading for the Life Journal is available on line. Click here to read or listen to the daily scriptures!