Based on “Straining Forward into My Future” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 6/11-12/11,
Message #6067; Daily Devotional #6 - “We Are His Church”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Maturity and spiritual growth bring some powerful elements into our lives, and one of them is peace. In all the things worth getting, peace must be the most valuable asset in which to strive to attain. Not the peace the world often touts, but the amazing peace which God alone imparts to those who choose to follow Him. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) No peace is found in a life that is controlled by past sins and looks not to its future. Not only is there no peace, but there is no hope for a future that could bear much fruit. It is the peace of God that guards our hearts and our minds (Philippians 4:7).
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (Philippians 3:12-16) The peace the apostle Paul lived out in his own life was due to His knowledge of Christ Jesus, which freed him to forget his own past sins while striving to be like Jesus. Just as he faced the flesh, the corrupt world around him, and Satan himself, we, too, must persevere against these same things. The world will never accept the Word of God as truth; all the more reason each Christ follower must learn what the Truth of God is and where it is found, for God’s Word alone provides Truth. Our flesh will always war with the Spirit of God, but we must be dedicated in the disciplining of the flesh. We must be aware of all the traps set to hinder us from growing in the Spirit. The desires of the flesh, the corrupt ways of the world system, and Satan, who knows his time is short (Revelation 12:12), are always on the move to destroy the faith and effectiveness of the Christ follower.
Harvesting the Crop (Action): But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) We must rest our bodies when we need to do so, but we never retire from growing in the Kingdom of God. We never stop straining to be like Christ. We never let the flesh have its way when it wars against the Word of God, and we remember our enemy would have us remain stuck in the mire of memories of past sins and failures, rendering our growth impossible. The peace of God destroys any fear of the future, and the future is where God is taking all His children. When we travel light (no baggage of past sins to weigh us down) and use our time wisely, we find peace and great joy in straining forward. Nothing can be done for God in the past, it is gone, but the blessed future is full of promise. Expand your knowledge of God by moving forward with Him. Remember, Jesus said His church would never fail, and, Christ followers, we are His church.
Cultivating (Additional Reading): Philippians 4:6; Luke 2:14
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Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
New King James Version = NKJV, King James Version = KJV.