Today’s scripture: Philippians 3:13-14 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Steve Adams):
How could one person change so drastically? The Apostle Paul (original name: Saul) congratulated those who killed the great prophet Stephen, but he was later inspired to write the beautiful Love Chapter of 1 Corinthians 13. Before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he wanted to persecute Christians. After he saw the light, his mind was set on the love of God.
Before: Saul was right there, congratulating the killers (Acts 8:1; The Message).
After: “Love is patient; love is kind . . . . It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13, excerpts; NRSV).
This spectacular change of heart necessitated that he regard big parts of his past as garbage — something to be thrown away (Philippians 3:8b). Instead of looking back, Paul looked forward with anticipation to the future and to all the opportunities that it presented to spread the gospel and do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
One attitude was essential in order for Paul to have this “look forward” attitude. He realized that he hadn’t reached his spiritual goal; that he had a ways to go in order to reach his potential (Philippians 3:12, 13). What a beautiful spiritual principle! It reminds me of a tulip-poplar tree that I planted in my front yard about ten years ago. It was only a small twig, about six inches high when I planted it. Now it towers over me, probably ten feet in height. But the tree “realizes” it hasn’t made it — it has higher goals, instilled in it by growth hormones called auxins. It wants to grow into a towering giant, like the huge tulip tree next door. God has put that same inclination for growth into our spiritual genes! And when we’re faithful in the spiritual basics year after year, the spiritual growth that we experience can be just as impressive as a tulip tree, or even a giant sequoia!
I think of how sorry Paul must have felt for all the Christians whom he helped to kill, but he didn’t let guilt and regret cause him to give up. Instead, he forged ahead, writing such inspirational words as these: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, for your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37; NRSV).
Thought for the day: When deep shame, guilt, and regret try to paralyze you, remember the Apostle Paul’s great lesson in perseverance: forgetting what lies behind and enthusiastically seeking what lies ahead.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.