NEW HOPE (NO … NOT THE STAR WARS MOVIE)
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: "Brothers and sisters, 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 3:13-14, NIV
Theme: Focus on the next step in pursuing Christ. We can learn from our past, but the past does not hold its grasp on us.
PAUL’S RESOLUTION
“Forget what is behind.”
Happy New Year. Traditionally, this is the time a lot of people take the opportunity to make new resolutions, promises, and set new goals in their lives. Then, around January 12th, the whole thing collapses, and most people revert to what was normal for them the previous year. The past continues to have a grasp on them. For many, nothing really changes.
In our Scripture for today, Paul is seeking perfection - just as those New Year Resolutions intend - but he is far from it, and he fully understands that he never will reach perfection before his death. He is, however, telling us to forget the past—forget what is behind—and strain forward to what lies ahead. Paul is telling us to keep the goal in sight. There is no turning back … forget what lays behind (last year’s broken resolutions) and remember that Christ awaits us at the finish line. We need to focus on what lies ahead.
Stop thinking about what you did wrong in the past. Recognize improvements through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Forgive yourself. There is peace in the Scriptures. There is no condemnation. Pray about your regrets and trust in God’s mercy. Praying brings peace and a new hope. “Because of his great mercy he [God] gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope, and so we look forward to possessing the rich blessings that God keeps for his people. He keeps them for you in heaven, where they cannot decay or spoil or fade away” (1 Peter 1:3b-4, GNT).
Make It Personal: I have overcome much in learning the ways of the Lord. I have learned to be present in the present moment. Yesterday is gone. I am letting go of regrets. Today is a gift. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Here is today’s gift to me, and to you … learn something new every day. If I can’t do that, then I create something new every day. I’d like to coin a new term: “Hopely.” With a new year before us, let’s start it out with this newly inspired word: “Hopely.” It means living with hope while staying on that Holy path. Living a Hopely life. It combines Hope with Holiness. “They’re a Hopely person.” “They follow God in a Hopely way.”
When spell check doesn’t like a word, it keeps wanting to change it. To me, that is a challenge. God’s challenges help us grow in faith. It’s not like the word “hopefully” (living in a hopeful manner). That only takes on one aspect of a feeling of expectation and trust which - in itself - is a pretty positive word. By adding in a little Holiness (dedicated and sacred to God) into that trust and expectation, we can move on a Hopely way. Keep and apply that word as you follow Him.
I don’t really want to take credit for this newly inspired word. I’ll give that honor to my Lord Jesus Christ. He gave it to me during one of our Quiet Time sessions. I call Him Teacher, because He is always educating me on new ways to follow The Light. May we all follow that Light and teach His words in a Hopely way.
Pray: Lord, Thank You for letting us call upon You for help at any time. We thank You that we are not without hope through our Redeemer and Rescuer. We all have lingering emotional hangups and habits, Lord. Help us identify them so that we may shift towards a more positive attitude. Help us move on from the past, as we prepare for Your eternal Kingdom. Amen.
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 7:10; Romans 8:1; Isaiah 43:18; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Peter 1:3-6
Weekly Memory Verse: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10, ESV