Pressing Forward
Author: Curtis and Tina Norton
May 23, 2019
Pressing Forward
“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.” – Philippians 3:13-14, NIV
Many years ago, a young man
and his mentor were traveling to remote villages to share the good news of the
Gospel. When they came to one town, there was an angry woman standing beside
the road.
A deep puddle filled with mud
prevented her from crossing. She was angry with her servants who were busy
trying to hold onto her purchases from the general store. As she continued to
berate the servants, the older man stepped in.
Without a word, he pulled the
woman on his back and carried her safely across the road. He got mud on his own
clothes but hers stayed in pristine condition. Rather than thank the man, the
woman shoved him and went back to her journey, sulking now that the way was too
long.
As the two men continued on,
they walked in silence for several miles. Finally the younger man demanded,
“Why did you carry that woman? She didn’t even have the decency to thank you!”
The older man looked
perplexed. “I put her down hours ago but it seems you’re the one carrying her
now.”
It’s easy to hold onto the
past, especially if we feel we’ve been wronged. Maybe your ex-spouse has spread
vicious lies about you, perhaps a friend you trusted betrayed you, or maybe
your co-worker stole the credit for your project.
You don’t have to carry these
hurts and betrayals into a new season. It’s time to release these burdens and
like Paul, press on toward the true prize—spending eternity with Jesus.
God, I release the burdens I’ve been carrying into Your
hands. I don’t want to be so focused on my past that I miss the joy of the present.
Help me to fix my eyes on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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