Philippians 3: 13-14
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The writer of this letter, Paul, didn’t allow his past to stop him from moving forward for the purpose God called him to do.
Paul overcame his past by keeping his focus on the prize. He didn’t allow guilt, shame, or regret to stop him.
Before Paul’s conversion, on the Damascus road, he was known as Saul, a Pharisee of the Phariseees, who intensely persecuted followers of Jesus. But God changed his life, and he became a follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul had his heart on Christ and Heaven.
We, too, must do the same thing. In these passages of scripture, Paul encouraged the Philippian church through his own personal experiences to let go of the past and focus on the things ahead in Christ.
We shouldn’t think too highly of ourselves. We haven’t arrived, and we have not reached spiritual perfection.
We are not righteous on our own. We are only made right through the righteousness of God. Our confidence should be in Jesus and not totally in ourselves.
Paul desired to win in Christ.
Just as a runner wins a prize, in God’s race, you don’t have to be the winner to be a winner. Everyone who endures the race to the end wins the prize, which is eternal life.
The race isn’t given to the swift nor the strong, but to them who endure to the end. God is the author and finisher of our faith.
We can’t effectively run the race for Christ looking back on our past regrets, mistakes, and failures.
We must know without a shadow of doubt that we are no longer who we were when we were in darkness.
We can’t allow past mistakes and past sins to hinder us from moving forward in Christ Jesus.
We should be striving to get to know Jesus more and more each and every day.
The more we get to know Him, the less we depend on our abilities. We must decrease daily so that Christ can increase in everything we do for the kingdom of God.
We are undone without the righteousness of God. We are only justified by Faith through Jesus Christ.
Faith is the ordained means of actual interest and saving benefit in all by the purchasing of His blood. It’s by Faith that we are saved, not of ourselves, not by works, not by being good, not by merit, but only by the Cross.
The Cross brings Salvation. ( See John 3:16)
~Letting Go Past Mistakes~
In order for us to move forward in Christ Jesus we must have a more intimate relationship with Him, by letting go and letting God have his way in our lives, by spending time with God in prayer, meditating, reading, and studying His Word.
In order to move forward in Christ, we must let go of past mistakes, failures, regrets, and move forward in the purpose God has for us. We can’t allow our past mistakes to hold us captive and hinder us from pressing toward the mark, which is Heaven.
We can’t allow our past to hinder us from moving forward.
The reason why many of us struggle with letting go of the past is because of unforgiveness.
It’s impossible to move forward and go backwards at the same time. We should never forget where we came from and how far God has brought us, but we can’t allow hurtful situations that happened in our past to hinder us from growing and walking in the purpose God has for us.
There’s no way for a runner to run a race backwards and forward at the same time.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your grace and mercy. Forgive us for our sins known and unknown. Help us to forgive and let go past mistakes, regrets, shame, and guilt. Help us to walk in integrity and do what’s pleasing in your sight. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Be Encouraged!
To God Be The Glory!
(LaTina DeLoach, a native of Minden, is a Christian,a devoted wife and mother and Lady Deloach As the wife of Pastor Gregory DeLoach, Blue Run Baptist Church.)