Reflection of the Day - 9/23/2008

Forgetting What Is Behind

And Straining Toward What Is Ahead!

I PRESS ON TO TAKE HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH CHRIST JESUS TOOK HOLD OF ME ...

I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF YET TO HAVE TAKEN HOLD OF IT.

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.

(Philippians 4:12-14 NIV)

* * * * *

Forgetting what is behind . . . what a wonderful phrase!!

It does not matter if what is behind is persecution, trouble in the churches,

the things which have injured us in the past,

or even an injury, a blot, brought on by our own grievous sin,

grace calls us to forget, to lay aside,that which is behind

and get busy straining toward what is ahead.
Not a cheap grace!

No! But an awesome grace for living forward.
And do not fail to note what Paul writes next.

IT IS THE ANTIDOTE

to help us live beyond the words, actions, and sorrows of those who

hold us back by constant reminders of who we were and what we did!

(They say "who we are" because they do not know this grace yet themselves

or don't apply it to others.)

* * * * *

For Further Reflection :

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things and,
if on some point you think differently,
that too God will make clear to you.
ONLY -

LET US LIVE UP TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED.

(vs. 15-16)

The grace of God is only asking us to live what we have at the moment
even as, by His hand, we strain toward the better which is to come
- both in this life - in our maturity in Christ -
- and toward our Great Hope -
- heaven. -