Press On...Toward JOY

Have you had your Joy Juice today? Somethings we want to forget…but the joy of Jesus is not one of those things!

            Philippians is my “go to” resource on joy! Paul had a “Master’s Degree”, so to speak, on  this subject.  No, he didn’t attend Joy State College or the University of Joy…but his real life experiences and spiritual awakening made him a true expert on the subject!

            In Philippians 3:13-14 he wrote:

“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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

            Why did Paul want to “forget what was behind” him?  He had done many things that he was ashamed of…one of which was holding the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr!  We’ve all done things that we wish we had not. If only we could change the past…..But we know that’s impossible! What we CAN do…is to let go of the guilt of the past and look forward to what God will help us become.

 As the Life Applications Study Bible footnote says:

“Don’t dwell on your past.  Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him NOW. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ.”

            Let’s forget what’s past and joyfully move forward in the footsteps of Jesus.