September 6

Press On

"Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil 3:13, 14 (RV)

Spending time contemplating the past and beating oneself up for past sins and failures is not only futile it will cost us the race. Likewise looking back at the progress we have made will cause us to stumble and fall. No forward progress can be made while looking backward. The goal will never be reached with us dwelling in the past. The past is just that, past. Nothing we say or do can change one thing that transpired yesterday, it is a futile effort on our part, but the future lies before us with new hope and we must stretch for it with our whole being. We need to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ died for all of our sins and failures and they are forgiven. Jesus Christ purchased those sins with his blood, they belong to him. He can make them into stepping-stones to better things if we will allow him to do so. Paul tells us what we must do to move forward and that is to forget that which is behind us. We must believe our sins and failures are forgiven and move on toward the goal. Let the Lord worry about your progress and let us reach forward with renewed hope toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Father thank you for the grace you have showered upon us, grace that brought your son to this earth to die. Thank you for his blood that cleanses us and washes us clean. Help us to forget past sins and failures, leaving them at the cross and allow Jesus to make them into stepping stones in the race that lies before us. Help us to stretch ourselves each and every day that we might reach the goal you have set for us. We leave our progress in your hands dear Lord, and we will press that the glory might be yours. Amen