Philippians 3:12-14 “{Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
This week, our Bible Study’s Turning Point series “Forward” focused on the need for the Christian to discover their God-given gift, discern their God-given dreams, set their priorities to achieve them, then focus on the one main thing in life that we keep us moving forward to obtain it. But, life is full of distractions, obligations, responsibilities, demands and duties compete for our time and eclipse our ability to see clearly what needs doing and how to do it. The push and pull of others and schedules can get us spinning in so many different directions, lose momentum and we grow weary. We must not look inward and base decisions on personal preferences, but faithfully focus on God’s will for our lives and doing what is required in the present to spiritually discernment our righteous path and reach our godly goals. Hebrews 11:1 explains, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the [evidence of things not seen.”
John 3:16-17, 36a “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. ”
In John 11:25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” The key is to maintain this eternal perspective that allows us to see our lives, our schedules, and our daily choices from God’s perspective. And take each step as He leads while focusing by faith on our ultimate heavenly home. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation from our sins unto eternal life. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.
Pastor Don Stewart of Calvary Chapel states that since life is short, and we do not know when we will die, we need to make the most of the time that we do have. The Apostle Paul proclaims in Romans 10:9-10, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Consequently all of us should live each day in light of eternity. The believer’s responsibility in light of this assurance is to live life in such a way that demonstrates your expectance of eternity. Having an eternal focus means we must live in light of eternity. When we go down in the grave, we go up to the kingdom of Heaven!
Romans 1:16-20 “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”
By faith focus forward on the straight and narrow path through the narrow gate of Jesus, walking with the blessed assurance of your ultimate destination and home in Heaven.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment