FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND
Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There are many things that make some hunters and fisherman successful in their pursuit of fish and game. One of the best things for success is a great memory of past experiences. Remembering what worked in the past and where it worked is a huge benefit.
I’ve always loved to fish small trout streams in the cedar and tag alder swamps of our state. As I sneak down the banks I can recall what small deep pockets or riffles produced trout. Many times there are fish there year after year.
While remembering things in the outdoors is a great thing, allowing things to go out of our memories is far more beneficial while dealing with relationships and hurts from others.
The apostle Paul speaks about leaving things behind in life. Can you imagine if Paul hadn't forgotten what lies behind? If he had held a grudge on all the cities that jailed him, he could never have reach the people in those cities for Christ.
When you and I go through life we have a choice to allow hurts and offenses to torture and affects our lives or we can let them go and forgive those that offend us. We will never be effective in our witness of Jesus Christ when we hold grudges.
Recently, I heard a quote that really touched me as I work through a painful situation that I'm dealing with right now. I'm not sure where this quote originally came from.but I think its profound.
"The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest."
We've all heard people that say that they can forgive, but they could never forget. If we strive to follow God's example we have to believe that we can and must forget the offenses against us.
Isaiah 43:18-19
"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Let go of the past and learn to live in victory.
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