November 12th Follow-up
Sunday follow-up:
Philippians 3 - “Our past, present, and future”
As followers of Jesus, we need to live each day in the present, while looking to the future, but also being mindful of our past. This can be a challenge at times.
Our past is part of our life, but it should never define us. We are defined by who we are in Jesus, not who we were in the past. Sometimes believers can find it difficult to live in the present because they are stuck in the past. They camp on past mistakes or what was lost in the past. But doing so keeps them from seeing what God has given (new creation, new identity, new purpose, new values, etc...) and how God is working in them at that moment.
Some believers live in the present, but are not mindful of past mistakes, so they keep repeating them. Though we don’t want to camp in the past, we can however glance back and reflect on what was to see what we can learn. Others live in the present, but all they can see is the problems of today. They are discouraged and maybe even depressed. They seem to lack hope. Why? Because they are looking down rather than looking up. They are focused on the moment while losing sight of what lies on the horizon.
Some believers live each day without any thought of the future. They rarely think of Jesus’ second coming let alone the rapture of the church. They are content with just getting to heaven, yet oblivious to the fact that one day each of us will stand at the Bema Seat of Christ to give an account of how we lived for Jesus. Sadly it is reflected in how they live in the present.
If you are going to look back, let it be to rejoice in who you are now and what God has given you. If you are going to look ahead, let it be to stir your heart to press in closer to Jesus and to reach out to as many people as you can.
To use a car analogy. Approach each day with the past in the rearview mirror, while keeping your eyes on the road and what is going on around you, but also keeping an eye out for what might be happening on the road ahead.
Have a blessed week. Remember Jesus is coming soon.
Philippians 3 - “Our past, present, and future”
As followers of Jesus, we need to live each day in the present, while looking to the future, but also being mindful of our past. This can be a challenge at times.
Our past is part of our life, but it should never define us. We are defined by who we are in Jesus, not who we were in the past. Sometimes believers can find it difficult to live in the present because they are stuck in the past. They camp on past mistakes or what was lost in the past. But doing so keeps them from seeing what God has given (new creation, new identity, new purpose, new values, etc...) and how God is working in them at that moment.
Some believers live in the present, but are not mindful of past mistakes, so they keep repeating them. Though we don’t want to camp in the past, we can however glance back and reflect on what was to see what we can learn. Others live in the present, but all they can see is the problems of today. They are discouraged and maybe even depressed. They seem to lack hope. Why? Because they are looking down rather than looking up. They are focused on the moment while losing sight of what lies on the horizon.
Some believers live each day without any thought of the future. They rarely think of Jesus’ second coming let alone the rapture of the church. They are content with just getting to heaven, yet oblivious to the fact that one day each of us will stand at the Bema Seat of Christ to give an account of how we lived for Jesus. Sadly it is reflected in how they live in the present.
If you are going to look back, let it be to rejoice in who you are now and what God has given you. If you are going to look ahead, let it be to stir your heart to press in closer to Jesus and to reach out to as many people as you can.
To use a car analogy. Approach each day with the past in the rearview mirror, while keeping your eyes on the road and what is going on around you, but also keeping an eye out for what might be happening on the road ahead.
Have a blessed week. Remember Jesus is coming soon.
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