Many of us can remember when we were afraid to do something we knew we should do because of the fear of repeating past mistakes. The result was that we were unable to move forward and we ended up feeling inadequate and defeated. However, there’s no need to let those mistakes hold us back from moving into the future God wants for us. He tells us to look ahead, not behind.

We’ve been empowered to forget the former things, and freed from considering the things of old. When it seems like the path to success is blocked, God will do a new thing for us and make a way in the wilderness. Whatever desert we’re in because of our own bad choices, God can make a way out of it. He does this because of His abundant favor toward us, and nothing is strong enough to stop or reverse it.

The apostle Paul received God’s grace in abundance. Paul admitted that although he wasn’t perfect, he was determined to forget the things which were behind him and reach for what was before him. What was important for him was pressing toward the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.

For us, this means that whatever colossal mess our sins have created, one drop of grace is well able to deliver us from it. The Law of Moses caused sin to abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. What Jesus did for us broke the power of sin. If we believe this, then we’re no longer under the law, but under grace.

Grace is not simply an idea or a concept. Grace is a person, and His name is Jesus Christ. After Jesus’ death on the cross, Satan thought he had won; but Jesus’ resurrection proved there’s no outdoing grace. This is great news for us.

Prayer:

God, Your grace has made forgiveness available to us for all of our past sins and mistakes, no matter how big they were. Your favor makes our deliverance possible; we give thanks for it and receive it by faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

• Isaiah 43:18, 19
• Philippians 3:13, 14
• Romans 5:20
• Romans 6:14
• Matthew 28:5, 6
• Mark 16:5, 6
• Luke 24:1-6
• John 20:1-9