We regard no one from a worldly point of view.
Happy Independence Day!
In case you missed it, we’re on day four of exploring three things to cling to and three things to surrender, all starting with the letter ‘P’.
So far, we covered the importance of holding on to God’s:
- Presence- Principles- People
Today, we move on to what we need to surrender, starting with: our Past.
Paul writes in Philippians 3:13:
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.
Forgetting what lies behind is key to moving forward in life. The devil will always try to remind us of our past, especially our sins and mistakes. Even the world usually defines people by their past, whether it is their victories or their failures.
But Paul rejects that POV:
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
What about all the things we did wrong? The Bible says:
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. - Psalms 103:11-12
Let that sink in: If God can let go of your past, why would you still hold on to it?!?
The next time the devil tries to remind you of your past, remind him of his future (Matthew 25:41).
Stop living in the past, whether it’s a beautiful or a broken past, start looking ahead instead because God has so many wonderful plans still in store for you (Jeremiah 29:11)!
Pray this prayer with me:Heavenly Father, today I want to surrender my past to You. Thank You for not holding it against me. Help me to see myself through Your eyes and focus on the bright and beautiful things You have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
