Get Ahead!

Hey everyone. Over the past few weeks, I've received an enormous
amount of encouragement and revelation from a Word that has been
reoccurring in my devotion. It's found in Philippians 3: 12-14

It reads:

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus
took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have
taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win
the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

..... There are so many instances in which we feel like we have
shorted God. There may even be people around you who 'help' you
realize your shortcomings in your past/ your walk with Christ.
Unbeknownst to them and us, these things are weights that will hold us
back in our race to "forget what is behind" and to " strain toward
what is ahead". Ahead may be your calling, healing, or change but
we'll never know until we free ourselves of condemnation. The Bible
says, in Hebrews 12:1,2 :

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that
so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us.

Be patient with yourself. Surround yourselves with people that are
patient with you. Be patient with others. The Bible says in Romans
3:23:

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

All of us... Now that does not excuse sin. But because Hebrews 8:1 is
true we must always recall the day that we surrendered our lives to
Jesus Christ. The day that we allowed the blood atonement of His
sacrifice to go before us and shelter us from condemnation and the
penalty for sin.

In Philippians, Paul admits his imperfections. But he doesn't wallow
in it. He gives it to God. He moves on, becomes better than his past.

Philippians 2: 12-13 states,

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my
presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your
salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to
will and to act according to his good purpose.

Let's work out our salvation. Let's do everything we can to make sure
that we make heaven. Live according to the standards of Jesus Christ
as recorded in the Bible, not the 'hip, cool jesus' that let's us do
whatever we want and is OK with it.

And, still, let's beware of our enemy, the devil, who will try and
discourage you and remind you of your imperfections. God is the Author
and the Finisher of our faith.

Be Encouraged

DS Ekpin