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Have you ever noticed that some people spend their lives regretting
decisions that they've made in the past? These individuals continually
struggle with forgiving and forgetting as they agonize over mistakes they've
made. When a person lives in the past, they not only lose the present but
the future as well. Once a person gets into the rut of living in the past,
it is extremely difficult to escape -- even though the costs are so high
that you would think people would avoid it. Then there are people who
live in the future and dream about what might happen to them someday, but
never actually take action today to make the dream come alive. Dreaming of
the future without taking action is costly to an individual because life is
so precious and so short.
If we want to delight in the full abundant life that Jesus wants us to
have
it is essential to realize that our present situation is a result of
our past activities and decisions. We can't do anything to change the past;
but we can live and act today to impact the future. It is also futile to
dream about the future unless we decide to act on decisions today so that
our future will be as we would like.
The most effective approach is to implement a plan of action today so that
we will be able to enjoy all that the Lord has in store for us tomorrow. As
we make investments today for the long-term, we need to know that there is
not always an instant return within 24 hours because we are serving an
eternal God who has no beginning and no ending.
Have you made your decision to develop a plan and then take action to
prepare for a great eternity with the Lord?
See you in Bible Class this week.
"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have made it. But I am
well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out
for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert
in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us
onward to Jesus. I'm off and running and I'm not turning back. So let's
keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.
If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total
commitment, God will clear your blurred vision you'll see it yet! Now that
we're on the right track, let's stay on it."
Philippians 3:12-16. From The Message by Eugene H. Peterson.
Link to Ted Edwards Home Page