“Forgetting the Past”….

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“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;
but ONE thing I do;  forgetting what lies behind
and reaching forward to what lies ahead.”  Philippians 3 : 13

PAUL  who wrote these words to the Philippian Church, had a lot to forget.
Paul had watched a man- Stephen-
being stoned to death and had held the coats of those who did it.
He made “havoc of the church”  that Jesus Christ had started to the point
that just the mention of Saul’s name produced fear in the hearts of the dedicated Chistians.
When Jesus called him ‘on the road to Damascus’ – Paul forgot the “past guilt”-
but never how God forgave him.

PETER  had a lot to forget. Imagine him denying his Lord three times.   Isaiah wrote to God’s people  saying, “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame: neither feel humiliated , for you will not be disgraced; but you will forget the shame of your youth.” {Isaiah 54:4}

As we forget our past of guilt, we must never forget GOD – His gracious hand that has constantly preserved and enriched our lives. These thoughts enabled Paul to carry on – no matter what happened to him.

Praise God for helping us forget our past mistakes and giving us courage to press forward towards God’s goal for our lives for the future.

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