‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ 1 Corinthians 13:13
Last week, during the service my wife and I attended, our Pastor called the congregation to pray before the service ended. This wasn’t the usual prayer to complete the service but an extended prayer about a mission he called us to undertake.
He called us to clear our minds of what we had to do after the service. He wanted us to be present before the Lord with no distractions. As he said this, I started to think about this and realized that I always look forward, not in a good way.
I look forward because I know that something better is NOT where I currently am. The problem with this is the only moment I have some form of control over is the present moment.
Let’s work this out:
As we know time, we have three points. We have the past, present, and future. I’ve been thinking about this for over a year, and our focus verse came to mind during this meditation.
‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’
Let’s look at the PAST. As Disciples of Jesus, our FAITH is that our sins are forgiven through His sacrifice. His blood covers the sins of the past, present, and future.
Sometimes, we may look at our past and think, how can we be forgiven for what we have done? The sins of our past, if we question His ability to forgive these sins, can also become anchors to us moving forward in our spiritual growth.
This can also apply to the successes we have had in the past. They can also become anchors to spiritual growth in our lives.
My career profession is sales. If we have a record month, it is the best month we have ever had. This does not mean that we stop selling. We’ve got to be constantly moving forward to the next sale. This also applies to our spiritual growth.
‘Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ‘ Philippians 3:12-14
Our past is essential; without it, we wouldn’t be who we uniquely are. God has given us experiences and wants us to use these experiences to help others down the path. This includes all of our hurts, habits, and hang-ups. We can look at Joseph’s mindset about his past as an example.
‘But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. ‘ Genesis 50:19-21
Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him, and they wanted to kill him. One of his brothers thought better of that, so instead of killing him, they sold him into slavery. He ended up in Potiphar’s household and was falsely accused of trying to rape Potiphar’s wife, and he was put in jail.
While in jail, he helped a couple of Pharoah’s servants by interpreting their dreams. They got out of jail, and he asked them to help him get out, but he was left there even longer.
He had plenty to be resentful about, but his trust was in God to do the right thing, not human beings.
Ultimately, acknowledging our past, good and bad, is okay, but it will not serve us to camp there. If we camp in the past, it leaves us in one of two places:
If our focus is on past successes, we long for the good old days.
‘Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. ‘ Ecclesiastes 7:10
If our focus is on our past failures and hurts, it will lead us to resentment and depression.
The key is to let our past be a building block to help others see a way forward from where they may struggle presently.
Let’s look at the FUTURE. Our HOPE is in the promises of God.
‘ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ‘ John 14:1-3
‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” ‘ Hebrews 13:5-6
‘‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ‘ Revelation 21:4-5
The one thing we do not know is when the Lord will take us home or when He is coming to get the church. That said, we are not promised the next breath here. But as disciples of Jesus, we are promised eternity with God.
Our challenge is not being able to see past our next step. We want to have everything figured out before we get there. We don’t want any surprises.
We suffer from anxiety when we focus too far outside the present. We can also suffer from pride if we plan too far into the future.
‘Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.’ James 4:13-17
Let’s wrap this up with the PRESENT. “But the greatest of these is LOVE.“
In the KJV, the word used in the place of love is “charity.”
I’ve heard charity defined as “Love in action.” The only place we can affect “love in action” is the present.
The issue is that the present is also where our trials and troubles are. And I think I look past the present because I don’t like going through the problem. See, I want the circumstances and the people in the circumstances to change. The last thing I want to do is change.
But God will allow for these circumstances to happen in our lives so that we grow. But we tend to resist this change to occur in our lives. But God will not leave us there. He will allow a more significant challenge to help us see the difference we must make.
How we look at our challenges can help us see it through a little quicker if we don’t resist.
‘Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ‘ James 1:2-4
‘So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. ‘ 1 Peter 1:6-7
As James puts it, “consider it an opportunity for great joy.” I believe it is an opportunity for great joy because he gives us the “opportunity” to resist or make the change. When we change, we will experience the “great joy.”
I’ve heard it said over and over again that the Lord will not put too much on us that we can’t handle, but this is wrong. He will put a lot on us. We are not to do this in our power. We are to do this in the power of the Lord, in His promise. ALL things are possible with God.
He says that He will give us a way out of the temptations we will face during our trials.
‘No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ‘ 1 Corinthians 10:13
Our temptation during these trials may be to lash out at those involved. Or to self-medicate to get past what we may feel during the test.
God promises that He will provide a way to escape the temptation.
‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ‘ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
There is only pride, resentment, and depression if we live in the past. And there is only pride and anxiety if we live too far into the future.
The only place that we affect real change in our lives and the lives of others in the present.
Let the heart of the Lord for you, and I be the heart that we have for those around us:
‘O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. ‘ Psalms 86:5
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your promise. Let me stay present in Your love. I pray, Lord, that You give me the strength to “Stand Firm” in the face of trials in my life.
I am not looking for the people or circumstances to change but that You allow me to look at the things in my life that You want me to change while knowing that anything outside of the change I need to make in my heart is in Your hands.
I pray that You give me the courage and conviction to honestly look at the motivations of my heart during times of trial. And You give me the strength to demolish the strongholds holding me hostage.
I pray that You allow my life to stand as an example of a submitted life in the hands of Jesus.
I thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
In the precious name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
