Happy Thursday, family! There are 25 days left in 2018 and I
want to offer a reminder to you. It is probably something that you think about
at the end of every year but somehow do not always manage to accomplish. This
year I want to encourage you to do it. What is it that I am asking you to do? Before
the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2019, intentionally and consciously
leave what hurt you, offended you, and hindered you in 2018. Everything that
this year challenged you with can go in the books with 2018, if you will let
it. Now, this might be difficult for you because it means that you can’t dwell
on the people and things that did you wrong. You cannot replay the
conversations and try to interpret what was said and the motives behind it. You
can’t even take your right to be right and use it to downplay your role or lack
of response. You see, today the Lord is calling you to do what He did. Put all
of the mess on the cross and leave it.
“Keep your eyes on Jesus,
who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because He
never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with
God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And
now He’s there, in the place of
honor, right alongside God.” (Hebrews 12:2 MSG)
Will you do me a favor and read that verse again? I want you
to pull something from it as you make this journey over the next 3 weeks. First,
Jesus finished the race so you can safely follow His lead without wondering if
this will work. Some of you struggle with following your leader because
something in you reminds you that they are human. Therefore, we can alleviate
that concern and go forward to what I want you to see. Jesus never lost sight
of where He was headed so everything that happened to him paled in comparison
to His destination. It is time for you to look ahead to your destination and
stop living in your past. The hurt, the shame, the heartache, the offense, or
anything else you have endured, cannot stand up to what God has In store for
you UNLESS YOU LET IT. Look at the verse! Because He endured and kept moving
towards glory, He is THERE now. Did He get weary? Yes! Did He get frustrated?
Yes! Did He question God? Yes! However, at the end of the day, He moved through
all that was done to him and came out on the other side.
Saints, will you do a self-examination of your heart and see
what is taking up space in there that does not belong? Will you put your eyes
on the best example and place all of those things at the cross so that you can
move into your 2019 without the weights of 2018. I mean it! Leave 2018 with all
its mess and the mess of any other year. Leave it! Why? Because you have a
THERE to get to and you need to have room for what the Lord has waiting for
you. Come on! You have some stuff to drop off at 2018’s door. Let’s go!
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment