Thought for the Day
September 15, 2008
Thought for the Day

There can be no doubt that clinging onto our past sins and mistakes is one of the most harmful habits in the Christian life. Because it is so natural, it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is.  But its results are tragic.  If is far better to learn to trust God's grace and live our lives in the forgiveness he so freely offers (A.W. Tozer, adapted)
God's Living Word

  So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. Hebrews 4:6-11, NLT)
Most of us have made mistakes in the past and probably still make some mistakes today.  That is why Christians so love Jesus and rely upon Him to help us through those times of failure. He offers us forgiveness and a new life because of His life, death and resurrection.  He has taken upon Himself our sin and washes us clean to make all things new in our lives and make everyday a new opportunity to enjoy the life He offers.

The challenge for many of us is to let go of our mistakes and learn to listen to the Holy  Spirit to live a new life in Him.  God wants us to focus our attention on listening to Him, honoring His word and being transformed by our faith in Him. 

Ian Thomas illustrates the mistake many of us make by telling the story of a man walking down a dusty, rural road on a hot and humid day.  The man is loaded down with a heavy backpack and carries a duffel bag in each hand.  A pick-up comes along, and the driver lets the man hop in the back.

The driver heads on down the road, but when he looks in the rear view mirror he sees that his passenger is standing in the bed of the truck still holding both duffel bags, still wearing the over-packed backpack on his back.

Truth is:  We stand in the truck of faith, still carrying our burdens, thinking they're independent of our ride with God.  We think Tod can carry us, but not our burdens.  But God's truck of faith is big enough to carry us and to carry all our burdens.

Maybe today would be a good day to sit down and rest in the ride  God offers who believe in Him and enjoy the ride as He carries us home.  

Have a great day with Jesus and Be There!
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