A Closer Walk
Every day we arise, get dressed, and face the day that is ahead of us. We may have plans for the day, but we really don't know what the day may hold. Even some we move forward anyway. We cannot go back. Because for us time doesn't work that way. It only moves forward. So we must move forward also.
"...but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus," Philippians 3:12 NASB. The Apostle Paul encourages us to press on. Move forward. Keep going. And every single day we do just that. We keep moving forward to lay hold of that for which we also were laid hold of. The Lord Jesus Christ saved us from our sins, and transferred us into His Kingdom. He laid hold of us. Why? Because of His grace, His mercy, and His love. And also because He has things for us to do. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them," Ephesians 2:10 NASB.
Our God, the Divine Potter, works with you and me, the clay, so as to mold us and shape us into the vessels He wants us to be. This molding and shaping has occurred throughout our lifetimes through people, places, and circumstances, and even more, through our walk with our Lord, to bring us to the point we are now. The vessel the Lord God Almighty wants us to be. “Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who made us, and not we ourselves,” Psalm 100:3 NASB. But, He is not done with us. How do we know that? How do we know that Our God is not finished molding and shaping us, and using us to further His Kingdom? Because we are still here. If He were done with us, He would have already called us home to our eternal reward. But since we are still here, we know that He still has works for us to perform. Our Heavenly Father has prepared good works just for us. Each of us.
"...but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus," Philippians 3:13-14 NASB. Again the Apostle Paul encourages us. This time to reach forward to what lies ahead. He also tells us that the past is the past, and to forget what lies behind. Those things we have experienced in the past are what helped to mold us into who we are today. And the fond memories of things we did or places we went will help keep us warm during our rest home days. But we cannot be focused on both directions, backward and forward, at the same time. Our focus should be on looking forward, and then moving forward to accomplish whatever good works our Lord has for us, as we deal with the day to day of life. Therefore we take one day at a time, we put one foot in front of the other, every day, and we keep going. We press forward. Joyfully and with gratitude.
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us , and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His loving kindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations,” Psalm 100:1-5 NASB.