DON’T FEED ON OFFENSE

10/21/2022

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” Philippians 3:13

Do you realize that God is not as concerned about how others treat you as He is about how you respond to them? Also, note that some ill treatments that you receive are warranted. What do I mean by this? If you are conducting yourself in a manner that is unbecoming of Christ, you should expect people to be turned off. So let’s be clear; not every opposition or criticism is with evil intent. Sometimes, they are God’s way of correcting a situation, usually, when every other attempt to correct you has failed. Regardless, God’s focus is your response; peace and edification.

I knew of a pastor who left the ministry because of the way he was treated by the congregation. He felt humiliated and abused; he considered his going into the ministry a great mistake. He looked back and all he saw were the negative things that happened to him while he was a pastor. Please understand that I am not making excuses for those that treated him badly, but looking back with regret is much worse than what people may have done to him. If placed on a scale, his regrets would outweigh anything that was done to him by the congregation. Because of the ill treatments, he allowed others to sway him away from his place of planting. Imagine how that excuse will sound when God requires of him to give an account of the ministry that was committed to his trust at the judgment seat of Christ.

Hear me saints; don’t allow anyone or anything drive you to a place of indifference when it comes to the things of God. Paul the Apostle said to the church in Philippi, “…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13). In other words, regardless of what his experiences were yesterday, they were not going to influence his passion for tomorrow. You may have had a bad experience in a previous relationship or job; it will do you no good to continue to operate under the cloud of that bad experience. Jesus said to His disciples, if you experience rejection or opposition, make sure you dust your feet in that city before moving to the next (Matthew 10:14). In other words, don’t carry the bad experiences of a previous assignment to your next assignment. Nonetheless, when you are in your place of planting, you do not move or leave each time you perceive opposition or rejection; you must stay planted because your place of planting is your place of flourishing.

Your life is in front of you, not behind. Don’t gloat over what happened yesterday. Live each day as though it was your first and last. You may have been treated in a way that no one should be treated, but in all that happens, you must learn to walk in love and humility. See in your experiences, opportunities for growth in character and faith.

God bless you!

Faith Filled Confession:

Forgetting those things that are behind, I press forward! I count it all joy. It has all been for my promotion and betterment. I will not be deterred from God’s purpose and destiny for my life. I will flourish in my God given assignment. And my experiences are full of joy and pleasures forevermore.

One Year Reading Plan: Isaiah 65-66; 2 Thessalonians 1