Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...

Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead...
I PRESS ON!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Dropping the Baggage

Today's January 1st, 2011!  
It's New Year's Day.  
A time when most make new year's resolutions.  
A time when we look to start fresh. 
A time to let go of the past. 
Letting go of the past begins with dropping the baggage.  Easier said than done, right?  I wonder what your baggage looks like?  If you were to label each bag what would they say?  Perhaps it would say anger, disappointment, or shame.  Whatever your baggage might contain, Jesus Christ has the solution.  You can leave your unwanted baggage at the cross.  There is no need to pick it up and take it with you.  There is no reason to cling to it.  When you believe in Jesus and receive His gift of salvation, you are made new!  You are clean and white as snow.  He does not remember your sin.  When you are judged one day, God will see Jesus, not your sin.  He will see that your sins have been paid.  Past, present, and future sin...

How does this position you to move forward in Christ and in your life?  Ah, it positions you to walk in freedom.  Free of the heavy burden of your sin.  Walking in the Spirit means that He will provide what you need exactly when you need it.  There's no need to run back to the cross to pick up those old disgusting sinful bags you've relied on in the past to define you.  Jesus has given you a new name.  He's given you talent to develop, gifts to use to build up the body of Christ, and most of all, your identity in Christ. 

Your identity is vital to remember on your journey through 2011 and beyond.  You are no longer tied to the person you left at the foot of the cross or their baggage.  You may occur some consequences from those bags, but surely they will be for His glory and your refinement.  How exciting it is to know that in Christ you are made new and that even if you've been a believer for a while the same holds true.  You can leave your sin at the foot of the cross and walk in the freedom Christ offers.

Start 2011 with this in mind...  The only "bags" you need for your journey with Christ this year is the Word of God.  In it will be the truth that will continuously keep your mind renewed to the unchanging God and His unfolding plan for you and this world.  Let go of what lies behind and take hold of what lies ahead!


May God bless you all as you enter 2011!

Audrey

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