Philippians 3

Philippians 3:12-16  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

I was talking with someone the other day about salvation and the gift of Jesus dying on our behalf.  They were asking a few questions here and there, but not really saying much.  Finally, I asked this person what was holding them back from making a decision for Christ.  This person looked at me and as a tear rolled down their cheek, they said, “If you only knew what I have done, what my past looks like.”  My heart wrenched for them and I shared today’s verse with them.  I told them that as we seek forgiveness, God not only forgives, but chooses to forget our past sins.  The challenge comes in that we need to forgive ourselves.

We are often our toughest critic.  We may have asked for forgiveness several times for something, but we can’t let it go.  We can’t move on.  We need God’s help in forgiving ourselves.  We need His help in “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”  Sometimes this process does take time, sometimes we have to talk with a trusted friend…but be assured – there is nothing too big for God to forgive and He is not keeping a record of what we have done wrong. 

Because of Jesus – we are free from our past!  Praise Him today because of our freedom!!

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy