Where Do I Get The Most Value?
We want to give great value to the work we put in for the Lord. Yesterday's accomplishments can truly be significant and honorable but sometimes those wonderful achievements hold us in the past.
How do our good works hold us in the past? Good works hold us captive in the past when we give what we have done in the past, more value than what we can do today.
We want to learn from the past and take those lessons with us. However, today, we seek new faith. We forget the past and look forward. We press on with fresh, daily faith.
Today's challenges require that your relationship with the Lord is fresh and new. Yesterday's faith is already on the heavenly ledger! There's no need to look back, as if you can make a "faith withdrawal" from that account. Your opportunity to exercise your faith today is a daily gift.
What you do in faith today is where all the value is at.
How do our good works hold us in the past? Good works hold us captive in the past when we give what we have done in the past, more value than what we can do today.
Have you ever had someone come to you who was seeking biblical wisdom about a challenge before them and when you began to teach them, they kept referencing things they accomplished several years before?
None of these wonderful accomplishments have as much value as what can be accomplished today. They may have come to you for help today but they can't hear you because yesterday's accomplishments hold more value than what they can do today.
Their approach is, "these past accomplishments of faith are enough to handle this next challenge!" Yet, we know it doesn't work like that.
We find ourselves in doubt when we hold an expectation that old works will carry us "in faith" today.
Paul shows us the mindset that we need to approach each day's challenges. Our past victories are good things but they are not designed to sustain us. Today is the day we need a fresh dose of faith. So, Paul helps us with that focus.
- Yea, I went to bible college.
- Well, I have read through the entire bible... 5 times!
- You know, I used to pray for 3 hours a day.
- I served at the church for 10 years.
- I've thoroughly studied that topic for many years. I know.
None of these wonderful accomplishments have as much value as what can be accomplished today. They may have come to you for help today but they can't hear you because yesterday's accomplishments hold more value than what they can do today.
Their approach is, "these past accomplishments of faith are enough to handle this next challenge!" Yet, we know it doesn't work like that.
We find ourselves in doubt when we hold an expectation that old works will carry us "in faith" today.
Let's Compare Resumes
Paul had the most amazing resume any of us could hope for, in service to the Lord, but those things amounted to garbage to him in comparison to what he could do today.We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! - Philippians 3:3-4 NLT
Paul shows us the mindset that we need to approach each day's challenges. Our past victories are good things but they are not designed to sustain us. Today is the day we need a fresh dose of faith. So, Paul helps us with that focus.
I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. - Philippians 3:13-14 NLT
We want to learn from the past and take those lessons with us. However, today, we seek new faith. We forget the past and look forward. We press on with fresh, daily faith.
Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Remember what it says: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled." - Hebrews 3:12-15 NLT
Today's challenges require that your relationship with the Lord is fresh and new. Yesterday's faith is already on the heavenly ledger! There's no need to look back, as if you can make a "faith withdrawal" from that account. Your opportunity to exercise your faith today is a daily gift.
What you do in faith today is where all the value is at.
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Take Action!
How do I forget my past accomplishments and look forward?
Our failures and successes of yesterday have little value in serving the Lord and those in front of us today. Our accomplishments for yesterday were good things but let's not stop there. Move forward with a new and fresh faith today, looking at what is important today. How do I bring my faith to bear today as if it is the first time I have moved in faith?
Here are few resources to help develop your strategy:
Please, add your thoughts in the comment section.
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Concept: “What I do today has more value than what I did yesterday.”
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