At times it can be tempting to live in the past: looking back at what’s been achieved or experienced and believe that we’re doing OK. Of course, it can be encouraging to enjoy the fruits of our labour, but only provided we don’t believe that as a result we have ‘arrived’!
On Sunday morning James from London City Mission reminded us from Philippians ch 3 that the apostle Paul could also look back, but as he laid out his past achievements, qualifications and accolades, he…
“…I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Phil 3:8)
Sometimes we may be tempted to look back but then fail to look forward, aiming for the attention, praise and glory to go to the Lord Jesus. He alone is the one to whom we owe everything and He alone is the one in whom we hope. Nothing and nobody else can bear the weight either of our sin or of our ambitions. All other rocks will give way like sand beneath our feet, Jesus alone is the rock on which we can depend, now and forever.
No wonder then that Paul encouraged the Philippian Christians to turn from the past and…
“…press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me!” (Phil 3:15)
This week and beyond, in everything we do, let’s aim to serve the Lord Jesus, compared to whom everything else we have and are is only rubbish.
Also, if you can, come and pray with us on Saturday morning sometime between 8am – 1pm to ask the Lord to guide us in doing that well.
Spencer Shaw