Looking Forward

CURRENT RADIO SERIES A Life of Purpose   CURRENT TV SERIES Destiny

Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. --1 Peter 4:16 There’s going to come a time in your life when, more than anything on earth, you’re going to need to know that God is with you. And when that moment does come, it’s very important that you keep your trust in Jesus. To do less is to deny or dishonor our God. This is what Peter is talking about in today’s verse. What he’s saying is that when your time of suffering comes, don’t be ashamed of Jesus Christ and don’t dishonor him by doubting him. Now, when Peter wrote this, he may have been thinking about when he denied and dishonored the Lord. Three times he denied knowing Jesus, even though Jesus had warned him ahead of time that he would. But Peter couldn’t imagine himself denying the Lord! Yet when the opportunity presented itself, Peter denied knowing Jesus… and he was devastated. I think this is the kind of situation Peter is trying to spare us from as believers. At the same time, it’s important to remember that Christ restored Peter… just like he can restore you. So if you’ve denied or dishonored Christ in the past, God can use you again. In the meantime, pray for the courage and the fortitude to never flinch in the face of trials. And ask the Lord to strengthen you that you might never give up on or deny him. WHEN YOUR TIME OF SUFFERING COMES, DON’T DISHONOR CHRIST BY DOUBTING HIM.

Looking Forward

Monday, August 05, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12–14

The Christian life is meant to be lived with a forward focus rather than a backward one. While we should never lose our gratitude for what God has done for us in the past, that is not where He means for us to live. There are things ahead for each of us, no matter what stage of life we may be in, that God has planned for us to accomplish for His glory. There is a future to anticipate even when we reach old age. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” (Joel 2:28). These dream are not remembrances of the past but anticipation of the future.

A. W. Tozer said, “I always get an uneasy feeling when I find myself with people who have nothing to discuss but the glories of the days that are past! Why are we not willing to believe what the Bible tells us? The Christian’s great future is before him. Therefore, the whole direction of the Christian’s look should be forward. It is a fact that we should ponder soberly that so many Christians seem to have their future, already behind them! Their glory is behind them. The only future they have is their past. They are always bringing around the cold ashes of yesterday’s burned-out campfire!”

Today's Growth Principle: 

Do not let the hurts and failures of yesterday keep you from accomplishing today’s task for God.