April 23, 2012
You Didn’t Get a Brain Transplant?
Transformational Thought
As we come to Jesus and begin to understand who
we are in Him, a major task to propel us forward is to examine our past, see it
through Godly lenses, put it behind us, and start marching forward. Paul makes
it clear in today’s scripture that he is on a journey. He knows he is not
perfect, but he determines to forget what used to motivate him … to forget his
past achievements. He reaches forward … to become all Jesus wants him to
be. He is moving in the right direction, toward Jesus … and he is intentional
in not turning back.
That’s where we need to be too, taking one
stepping stone at a time on our journey toward Jesus, to live out and accomplish
His purpose for us. In the verse for today, Paul talks about forgetting, but
what does he really mean? He is not talking about having amnesia about the
past. Some Christians will tell you, “You are a new creation, don’t look at
your past, only look forward.”
Now, listen closely as this is a very important
point. It seems clear and silly when I say it, but it is a powerful point to me
and hopefully to you with many ramifications that clarify journeying for the
prize. Here is it comes: When we accepted Christ as our personal savior, we don’t
get a brain transplant. Think about it, if we were totally transformed at that
point of salvation, we would never have sinned again. How sad, that as
believers, we do still sin. So there must be something we have to do to allow
the perfect Holy Spirit to complete His job in perfecting an imperfect us.
You see, it is all comes down to decision-making.
This is our part. Stewarding our decision-making opportunities. In order to
allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us, one thing we need to do is
look at how our past adversely influences present decision-making. We need to
forget the old motivations, goals, and pursuits we once had … and stop
conforming to the world’s system.
Our past is what God allowed in our lives so we
would draw close to Him. Another outcome is to prepare us for the good works He
has planned for us. Many situations, both good and bad, from my life prior to
my commitment to Christ, are used by God in ministry to others. This is what
God intended. Forgetting my past would cause me to miss opportunities to learn
about God’s grace, forgiveness, and love and to turn what Satan intended for
bad into something God can use for His glory.
But when we look at our past, we do need to
process it with a very specific focus on Jesus and God’s plans and goals. That
will transform our lenses so we can take every thought captive and allow God to
come in to those old areas of hurt. Then healing can occur … and truth will
replace the ripples of distortion that Satan wants fogging our lenses.
Today, don’t ruminate about the past, but don’t
ignore it as if you had a brain transplant. Your past is always affecting your
decisions now, so examine your decisions today to understand how your past
affects them. This will actually show you what is at the center of your heart.
Your past will reveal why, in certain situations, other things are at the
center of your heart, instead of God. WITHIN REACH and Edging Forward are our curriculum
that helps you examine and understand your decision-making process, and become
a Godly decision-maker. Whether you have a renewd mind(a brain transplant) is
your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank You for Your healing and
forgiveness. Help me to use my past hurts for my growth. Do not allow them to
interfere with the growth You have for me. Show me how to keep my eyes on Jesus as I move forward along
the path You have for me. Help me to practice this skill regularly. I pray this
and all prayers in the name of the One who has made everything right, Jesus
Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!
The Truth
Not that I have already obtained this or am
already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has
made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But
one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies
ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in
Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
