Friday, December 15, 2017

Friday, December 15, 2017

Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14

Atop a file cabinet in my office sits (swims?) a betta fish that was given to me by a colleague. Occasionally, when feeding Brette his daily diet of three pellets, I envy the simple life that he lives. Though scientific research has disputed the longstanding belief that a fish’s memory lasts only a few seconds, moving on from what lies behind us can be both desirable and critical. While we can (and should) learn from past experiences, it is imperative that we not let them hinder our future.

Forgetting bad plays and bad games is crucial to an athlete’s long-term success. Military personnel, first responders, and doctors cannot afford to dwell on events that had undesirable outcomes. At some point, we all have likely desired to move past the hurtful words or actions of a loved one, or suffering and struggles that we have endured.

Through the eternal promises of Christ Jesus, we can rely on His Sovereignty as we press on through life’s adversities towards our heavenly call. At Liberty Lutheran, our mission and values uniquely position us to help others do so as well, as we assist those we serve in navigating their life-changing situations. What a blessing it is to be able to be a part of an organization that shines as “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14)!

This advent season, strive to forget what lies behind, strain forward to what lies ahead, and encourage and support those around us to do the same.

Lord, thank you for your heavenly call and for your eternal promises that provide us with perspective during our momentary troubles here on earth. Help us to put the difficulties and pain of the past behind us as we move forward in your love and strength. Amen.

Brandon Frank is the Manager of Financial Reporting for Liberty Lutheran.

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