Friday’s Focus: Letting go of your past

Philippians 3:12-16 Not that I have already attained it, or have already become perfect: but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not consider myself to have laid hold of it yet: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize, to which God has called me upward in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, be of this mind: and if in anything you are of a different mind, God shall also reveal this to you. 16 Only let us hold true to that which we have already attained. (RKJNT)

Aw, the good old days or not so good old days. It does not matter how you view your past, oh, I am so sorry we must understand “those things which are behind” is referring to the old sinful nature—old man / person. Your past is the life before your rebirth or before you became a child of God.

Philippians 3:18-19 For many, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even with weeping, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (RKJNT)

Please do not think that being born again means you have changed the way you think and act. The “many” spoken of in Philippians 3:18 are born again who “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ…with minds set on earthly things”. Yes, as stated in Romans 6:6 the old man—sinful nature was crucified so we should no longer be a slave to sin. Forget about your past life—let go—’put off the old man’. You have the help you need to change through Christ and the Holy Spirit. The longer the enslavement the more difficult the transition / change to living free.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should no longer be enslaved by sin. (RKJNT)

Ephesians 4:22 Then put off the old man, which belongs to your former life, which is corrupt through deceitful lusts; (RKJNT)

Challenge: Forgetting your past

1. What is the solution, how do we forget and let go of our past? Look at Philippians 3:14-17 and 20-21
2. I can offer some simple advice:
   1. change your environment and your associates (unless they are born again believers)
   2. change your habits
   3. stay busy exploring your new life (you did it as a human developing from one stage of life to the next; your spiritual life is very much like that, you grow and develop as you go)
3. Find a few Scriptures that relate to item 2 a-c. (for the babes in Christ, I plan to follow this study with another to cover these items)

Please give your answers and feedback in the comment area at the end of the post.

Scriptures to read and study:

Philippians 3:12-21; Romans 12:9-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17

Forget – to lose the remembrance of; to let go from the memory; to fail to recall, notice, or mention; pass over; to banish (shut out) from one’s thoughts; to put out of mind. Be blessed – ♥ Tim.

♥ Question for today: Have you burned the bridge to your sinful past?