January 20, 2025
As a new year unfolds, take a moment to reflect on these words from Paul, “Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NASB). Dividing that verse into thirds, take a moment to focus on the following.
Forgetting what lies behind- As the apostle penned these words, he was no doubt reflecting upon his zealous Jewishness–to a time when he persecuted the Christians he was now serving. Gloriously, he had come to a point where he viewed all his conquests in the law as loss when compared to “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NASB).
Luis Palau, in his book Experiencing God’s Forgiveness, tells about a conversation involving Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. When someone reminded Barton of a vicious deed someone had done to her in the past, she acted as if she didn’t remember the incident. Pressing the situation, the friend questioned, “Don’t you remember?” “No,” she replied, “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”
Pondering the past, the list of what I’m grateful for is endless. That said, there are those occurrences I’d just as soon forget. Surely, these foibles served a purpose. Often, we learn more from our failures than successes. Nevertheless, a time comes when one must cut losses and move on. Entering 2025, push the delete button on those painful memories.
Reach forward … which in the original language means “to stretch out to or towards.” Picture here a runner pushing himself/herself to the limit, straining every muscle in a quest for victory.
I ran three marathons between 2011-2014. While my times were nothing to write home about, I did finish. I remember at around the 20 mile marker, shortened breaths and aching muscles, thinking, what’s left in the tank? At that point, the endorphins kicked in, boosting me to the finish line.
Think of the Holy Spirit as your spiritual endorphin. If you’re a child of God, He lives in you. If you need a fresh filling, seek it. As Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13 NASB).
…to what lies ahead. Old school and tech challenged, I keep my schedule on paper calendars (pocket, desk), as opposed to my phone. Looking at them now, in my semi-retired state, I see lots of white space and empty squares. While there was a time when that would have bothered me, not anymore. It’s liberating, exciting in fact.
Examining people called upon in the Bible, I see few, if any, who came to God with an agenda. Whatever they had on their calendars suddenly became insignificant once they said yes to Him.
Who among us can say with certainty what 2025 has in store? As the old rabbinic phrase says, “Man plans and God laughs,” which reads very similar to Proverbs 16:9: “The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps (NASB).
One truth you can rest assured of, God has your best interest at heart. He knows exactly what lies ahead for you. While the children of Israel languished in exile in a foreign land, God delivered this message of comfort and assurance: “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 [add version]).
Those words are just as applicable today as they were at the time they were written, over 25 centuries ago. “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31 [add version]). Take your eyes off the rear view mirror, focusing instead on an abundant present and fruitful future God has in store for you.
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Todd Gaddis is a semi-retired minister living in Athens. He continues to serve as an interim pastor and can be reached at jtoddgaddis@gmail.com.
