What Can We Learn From Scotch?
Johnnie Walker.
Recognize the name?
It’s a brand of scotch.
Now, I’m not a scotch person. In fact, I’ve never tasted it.
But I saw one of their ads in the New York Times with this slogan”
The next step is the one that matters most.
I immediately thought of the Apostle Paul
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians 3:13
Forgetting
What’s behind you?
Forget it!
Paul forgot the times that he directed the arrest, torture, and murder of many Christians.
He left it behind him.
How hard is it for us to do that?
- We continually look back at past sins and grieve.
- We repeatedly ask for forgiveness for the things God has already forgiven and forgotten.
- We look behind us at better times and yearn for what has passed us by.
- We crave the simple life that has been swallowed up by the chaos of our everyday lives.
Straining
How did Paul turn from the guilt of his past?
He worked at it.
He submitted his life to the grace and forgiveness of his Lord Jesus Christ.
He choose to believe in God’s promises.
He set his face toward what was ahead.
Some of us say, “God can’t forgive me. You don’t know what I’ve done.”
God’s forgiveness and grace is infinite.
You can’t out-sin Him
You can’t exceed the power of His love.
If you turn to Jesus as Paul did, He will erase your sin with His mercy and grace.
Ahead
Paul endured stoning, attack from Jews, forty lashes from jailors
Yet he stayed focused on God’s call.
Step by step, he walked on.
Day by day, he served God.
When we’re buried in sorrow or despair, we can’t see a way out.
But, if we focus our eyes on Jesus, we’ll move forward.
Step by step
Day by day
Each step in the first one in our journey toward tomorrow.
Yesterday’s steps are behind us.
Tomorrow’s steps are in God’s hands.
Just take each step, one by one, and let Jesus guide you.
How has Jesus guided you step by step?
Photo credit Messiah Life
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2 Comments
Hi, I am Sherry Carter. Nice to meet you!
The Conversation
For me, it's been a long journey of me taking wrong turns, and hoping I'm on the right path. But with Him nudging me along the way, I've gotten back on track. I hope I stay there. Step-by-step for sure! That's the only way it can be done. 🙂 Thanks for the post…it makes me think more about Paul because you're so right.
We've all made lots of wrong turns. He stays with us all the way, guiding us back onto His path. Thanks for commenting!