Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
May 10, 2023
Philippians 3:12-21
12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 15 So all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. 16 Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached. 17 Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. 18 As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. 19 Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.
Good Morning, Remain focused on your faith journey.
It is easy to become so consumed by something in our past that we can’t see the future. Many of you know that I grew up in Indiana, and you might even know that the movie “Hoosiers” was filmed in the area where I grew up. I have been in all of the gyms shown in the movie because my high school played games in each of those gyms. Even though the setting of this movie predated me by a few years, it accurately depicts life in central Indiana, the land where basketball is king. Watching it, I am transported back to a much simpler time in my life. I call it simple because I was a kid!
There was a character in the movie named, Shooter. Shooter had been a bright star on the basketball court, and he and his team came within a shot of making it to the state finals. When he could not live his adult life with the glory of his youth, he became a drunk and a disgrace to his family. He was stuck living in his past, in the moment of what might have been. In the movie, he finally turns his life around for his son.
Paul is telling us that we can’t dwell on the past, and we can’t settle or become obsessed with earthly treasures. What is behind us is part of who we are. Our experiences, good and bad, may cause divergences in our journey. It’s like having to take a detour and discover new things along the way, but ultimately we must return to our path to God, our faith journey.
As I think of the challenges from which I struggled but have moved past, I don’t want to relive that. I may have similar mountains to climb, full of valleys and peaks, but by the grace of God, I will apply all I’ve learned and tackle this new obstacle armed with new tools.
I apologize, but It’s become a movie metaphor day. In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray’s character is stuck in a single day, which resets as he awakens each morning. Phil, the weatherman, has lost his way and is not a good person. In each iteration of Groundhog Day, we see Phil live the day over and over until he finally gets it right.
Through the Holy Spirit working within us, God gives us as many chances to learn the right way, the Holy way, so that we may return home and claim our eternal life.
Now, one final movie quote for the day, "And now, my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving." (Raul Julia) "What's-a behind me is not important." This comes from a character in a campy cross-country road race movie of the 70s, when he pulls off the rearview mirror before they begin their journey to reach the finish line.
It’s not that what is behind us is unimportant, but that it is behind us. Let us focus on the journey ahead of us and bear the cross of Jesus as we strive toward God.
Blessed God, We thank you for Your blessings. You are great! Sometimes we become distracted by all that glitters on Earth. Help us focus on what is good, pure, and Holy. Thank You! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Focusing on Christ helps me to keep moving forward.
Step forward with the confidence of the children of God! Pastor Liz
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