God is always there for us (Devotionals)

81. Forgetting the Past and Looking Forward

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13

Isang mapagpalang araw sa inyo, mga kapatid. Halos isang taon na siguro nang huli kong ni-update ang devotionals na ito kasi napakaraming nangyari talaga sa life na siyang nakaapekto rin sa relationship ko sa Lord pero ito muling magbabalik, susubukan muli. May God bless us all. Bago ninyo simulan ang pagbabasa ng chapter na ito, I encourage you to pray first and read Philippians 3:12-14. 
____

Lahat tayo ay may kanya-kanyang past na minsan o madalas multuhin tayo. Hindi nga naman kasi ganoong kadali na makalimutan ang nakaraan, lalong-lalo na kapag mas iniisip ang lahat ng kahihiyan sa buhay. Kapatid, natitiyak ko ang bawat isa sa 'tin ay merong nakaraan na nais ng limutin. Hindi ka nag-iisa kung ganiyan nga ang iyong pinagdadaanan. We know the story of Paul, 'yong author ng Philippians, before he was called by our Lord Jesus Christ. Alam natin na before his conversion na nag-participate siya sa persecution ng mga disciples ni Jesus, isa siya sa mga matitinding mag-persecute pero nakita natin na kung paano siya binago, gaano katindi ang ginawa ng Diyos sa buhay niya at gaano rin siya naging matinding naging apostle Niya, hindi ba? Ganoon kagaling ang Diyos natin. Hindi basehan ang nakaraan natin, kundi ang pasya Niya na piliin ang sinuman na hindi tinitignan ang past.

Kaya kapatid, kung past pala ang basehan sa pagpili ng Diyos— walang mapipili at walang magiging qualified kasi lahat nagkasala, lahat lumayo sa Kanya. Let us be encouraged by these verses about forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Huwag nawa natin hayaan na ang hindi magagandang past natin, naging failures natin, na mapalayo sa Lord, mapalayo sa goal na matapos ang race ng Christian life natin.

We can see Apostle Paul as example, siya ay focus sa goal— to finish the race. Hindi niya nililingon ang nakaraan. Hindi niya binubuhat ang nakaraan. Sa halip, he focuses or fixing his eyes on Jesus, he looks forward to what lies ahead, the victory of reaching the end of race and receive the heavenly price. Sigurado akong magiging worth it ang lahat sa huli. Hindi mo man nararamdaman ngayon, subalit ang magpatuloy ang isang gagawin mong hinding-hindi ka mag-re-regret. (We can only do this by God's grace and strength)

[Paano natin maabot ang goal na to finish the race of our journey as Christian?]

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but 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 3:12-14

1. Continue to the road of perfection, focus to Jesus

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. Philippians 3:12a

Si Apostle Paul ay sinabi niya na hindi pa niya naabot ang maturity/perfection... So it means, walang perpekto; walang matuwid kahit isa. Alam natin we are called to be like Christ or Christlike pero dahil nasa flesh pa rin tayo, we still commit sin, we still fail. But I believe God has started to work, and He will finish what He has started. The Holy Spirit will help us in our weaknesses. Those who are His children, will not live at sin. Sa halip, God protects them and disciplines His children.

Apostle Paul recognizes that he is  not perfect, that he still did not reach maturity/perfection of being Christian. But what he is doing? Naka-focus siya sa Lord and continue pressing on sa kanyang pagkatawag. (Press on number 2)