Daily Devotion: September 23rd 2021
Thursday September 23rd
Read: Philippians 3:12-21
Learn: The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in the Roman colony of Phillipi. He wrote the letter from prison. In this passage he speaks of the goal to be more and more like Christ, stating that he has not fully achieved this goal yet. A key part of the passage is found in verse 13, where Paul states the importance of looking forward and not dwelling on the past. When one reflects upon Paul’s past this verse seems even more meaningful.
At one time, Paul was known as Saul, a great persecutor of Christians. In fact, Paul was present as the Christian Stephen was killed for his beliefs. Paul persecuted the church so badly that they scattered from Jerusalem in fear. It wasn’t until Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus that he turned his life around. It would have been easy for Paul to dwell on the sins of his past and let those things stop him from becoming the church planter and minister God destined for him to be. If Paul had not had an attitude of “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” the world would look much different today. Paul ends this chapter by encouraging the church to imitate him, setting our minds on heavenly things and not on earthly things. We must heed the words of Paul. Letting go of the past, looking forward to the future. Investing into heavenly things, knowing that earthly things are temporary.
Reflect: If God can use someone like Paul, with a vicious past, to change the world, can He use you in great ways as well? Have you ever felt you weren’t good enough to be used by God? What would change if you let go of your past and allowed God to own your future?
Pray: God, help me to understand that the world does not qualify me to do your will. I don’t need anything but your will in my life to do what you have called me to. Strengthen my faith, show me that you have endless resources and will give me what I need to do your will. Help me to let go of my past and anything that is holding me back from you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Read: Philippians 3:12-21
Learn: The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in the Roman colony of Phillipi. He wrote the letter from prison. In this passage he speaks of the goal to be more and more like Christ, stating that he has not fully achieved this goal yet. A key part of the passage is found in verse 13, where Paul states the importance of looking forward and not dwelling on the past. When one reflects upon Paul’s past this verse seems even more meaningful.
At one time, Paul was known as Saul, a great persecutor of Christians. In fact, Paul was present as the Christian Stephen was killed for his beliefs. Paul persecuted the church so badly that they scattered from Jerusalem in fear. It wasn’t until Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus that he turned his life around. It would have been easy for Paul to dwell on the sins of his past and let those things stop him from becoming the church planter and minister God destined for him to be. If Paul had not had an attitude of “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” the world would look much different today. Paul ends this chapter by encouraging the church to imitate him, setting our minds on heavenly things and not on earthly things. We must heed the words of Paul. Letting go of the past, looking forward to the future. Investing into heavenly things, knowing that earthly things are temporary.
Reflect: If God can use someone like Paul, with a vicious past, to change the world, can He use you in great ways as well? Have you ever felt you weren’t good enough to be used by God? What would change if you let go of your past and allowed God to own your future?
Pray: God, help me to understand that the world does not qualify me to do your will. I don’t need anything but your will in my life to do what you have called me to. Strengthen my faith, show me that you have endless resources and will give me what I need to do your will. Help me to let go of my past and anything that is holding me back from you. In Jesus name, Amen.
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