MOVING FORWARD
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Ephesians 1:3-14 (NRSV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.
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Paul wrote, "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:13-14 (NRSV)
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MY friend Brad stopped by my home one afternoon to install software on my computer. A young man of 28, Brad had become a Christian six months earlier. While he worked on my computer, he talked about the ups and downs he had experienced since he had given his life to Christ. More than anything he wanted to please God, he told me, but images from his past continued to run through his mind.
Before becoming a Christian, Brad had spent much of his time drinking and partying. He told me that although the Lord had changed his life, he still felt guilty about his past sins. As Brad continued installing the software, we talked about repentance and the work of God's Spirit in our lives. "I guess I should forget about the past and trust God for forgiveness," Brad said as he finished his work.
When we drag guilt about our former lives around with us, we hinder our growth in faith. No matter how great our sin, God forgives when we repent. As we allow the Spirit to work within us, God will help us to let go of the past and move into the future.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your love and forgiveness. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God offers us forgiveness and freedom from guilt.
-- James C. Hendrix (Indiana, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Men who need a Christian friend