Chapter 50 – Remembering and Looking Ahead
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's never too late to greet, and it's still January na naman. This chapter will be written in Tagalog-English, so please bear with me as we dive on the two verses below:
And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. — Deuteronomy 8:2
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But 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 upward call of God in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 3:12-14
Everything is written impromptu as I think of the topic on hand. It's literally a draft. As far as I know, this topic came from a sermon, but I already forgot who the speaker is but it's one of the thousands sermon that stuck in my head and as well in my heart. There'll be addition as we go.
It talks about remembering and looking ahead in the life of faith. As they say the Christian life is impossible, and yes, this topic just shows it's hard, yet by the grace of God, the Christian can do it because Jesus already did it.
Deuteronomy 8 talks about remembering the Lord for all what He has done to Israel since day 1, leaving Egypt up until they ready to enter the land of milk and honey. The speaker, Moses didn't get a VIP pass for it, though, Joshua and Caleb did have.
The 2nd verse came from the New Testament, and it's Paul who is talking to the Philippians, and it talks about pressing forward and not looking behind. Here, you're like an athlete pressing on toward what lies ahead.
So what will you do?
And add this verse which now say don't think too much:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. — Matthew 6:33-34
So what's the best thing to do? To remember, to look ahead, or just don't think too much and enjoy the present moment?
It's all of the above.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. — Hebrews 13:8
All those verses above points toward a name that exist in all time phases.
In Jesus, remembering makes us grateful, the present moment makes us content, and trusting in Him builds confidence for us to face what the future can give.
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. — Psalm 90:12
As we face this new year, the best decision is to cling to God and His Word, and from all the things He has done for us, as we put our faith in Him alone.
To God be the glory.