This Mind and These Convictions - Audio

As we come to the end of another year, we tend to look both back and ahead. For some the past year has not been the best. Of all of God’s creation, only humans are conscious of time. Our lives are controlled by time and we are conscious that time has a meaning and a purpose. Every day that comes to the cow or the bird is just like the one before. But you and I know about time and are usually looking forward to something new. God’s purpose for our life is not in the past. In these times of reflection, there are many things that can affect our thinking. Bro. Hughes notes that tonight is a good night to let some things go and to focus our mind and thinking to properly frame our approach to the new year. Paul writing to the church at Philippi explains that he is not perfect. Of all the people we read about in the bible, Paul stands out for his faith and his relationship with God. But he says here that he has not reached the place that he needed to be. No matter how old we are, there is something that God can do in us and through us to serve His purpose. There are three things in this text that we need to embrace and have in our thinking as we look to the new year. First Paul says that he had not yet obtained what it is that God had for him. He was still trying to understand that thing that had reached out and grabbed him those many years ago on his way to Damascus. It is critical that we continue to search for God’s purpose in our life. Secondly, Paul talks about forgetting about those things in the past. The word used in the Greek means “to let go” and to “move away.” God said it is time to let go of some stuff that is behind us. When Paul made that statement he was talking about things that were both good and bad. No matter how much he had done in the past, it was in the past and he had to let it go. No matter how good it was in the past, there are better things in the future. Good or bad, we cannot live in the past. Our life shouldn’t be defined by what was, but by what will be. Weather good or bad, let it go and look to the future. Finally Paul says that he is reaching out. The word used is that of an athlete reaching for the finish line. He was not satisfied with what he had, and was reaching for more. As the year draws to a close, it is time to reflect on what has happened, but more importantly, to plan to reach for more in the year to come.