“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
I am indebted to Dr. David Jeremiah for the ideas shared in this post. When I read the points that I am about to make, the idea of living wisely came to my mind. I think that the text and the three things suggested in the article tell us how to live wisely. First, “Accept the past.” Paul wrote “forgetting those things which are behind.” Do you realize that Satan is an expert at helping us dig up negative things from the past? Yesterday I heard Charles Stanley preach on this topic. He pointed out that Satan will never bring up the good things from our past, only the negative. His reason for that is that he wants us defeated and thinking less of ourselves than we should. When I heard Charles Stanley say that, I thought, “Man, did I need to hear that.” We just have to accept that the past is the past. Nothing can be done about what we have done in the past. If God has forgiven your past, why would you want to continue to carry the guilt? If you want to live wisely just accept the past. Second, “Trust God to handle the future.” Paul wrote: “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before.” He is encouraging us to embrace the future. I know that this is an old cliché but it needs quoting here: “I do not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future.” If we realize that, just as we do not have to face the present alone, we will not have to face the future alone. When God defined Himself to Moses as “I AM," He defined Himself as God of the past, present and future. God has always been and He will always be. When tomorrow comes, He will be there waiting, just as He was the day before. I look back and think of the times that I dreaded what was about to happen in the future. And here I am still alive, well and kicking. The future has not always turned out well for me from the world’s standpoint, but it did not kill me. I love the saying, “That which did not kill me, made me stronger.” That’s probably not the exact quote, but it tells how I feel anyway. The future will be what it will be, and we will just have to utilize our faith in Jesus as we did yesterday and as we are doing today. Face the future in faith, and it will not seem dreadful. Third, “Make the most of the time He has given you today.” Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15-16: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The HCSB translates it: “Pay careful attention then, to how you walk- not as unwise people but as wise – making the most of the time because the days are evil.” Paul realized, as we must, that we cannot relive the past and we cannot live in the future so what we have left is today. We need to make the most of each day. This is why I start each day with a careful reading of the Bible and with prayer. I know that I need to start each day off with God so that it will be a better day. I’m not pointing out my “righteousness” to you; rather, I am pointing out my need. I need God/Jesus in this day, or it will not go right. Dr. Ted Adams, one of my seminary professors, pointed out to us that we need to encapsulate each day and live it to our fullest capacity. What we do today will determine what we can do tomorrow. If we see each day as a waste, and look forward to something better in the future, we are building our lives on a poor foundation. If we want to live wisely, we just need to make the most of each day that God gives us and live it to the hilt. Satan wants to bring up your negatives from the past, make you dread the future and he wants to ruin today for you. Don’t let him do any of it. Live wisely! Bro. Joe
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
All
Archives
September 2021
|