Remembering But Pressing On

Remembering but pressing on is challenging. But the emphasis is always about pressing on if we are to be effective disciples. Still, we need those moments of recollection. So this 5th Birthday post will unpack that thought just a bit. With the hymn writer we will count our many blessings (that’s remembering) and see what God has done (that’s the necessary perspective).

Proper Remembering  

Jesus gave us our most obvious command on this subject: As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of Me (Luke 22:18-20; I Corinthians 11:23-25). In connection with that, we are also told that we must examine ourselves as we come to the Lord’s table (I Corinthians 11:28-29). That requires us to remember and assess our own lives. Even so, the point is to repent and press on in Godly living.

We have an example of that in John’s Revelation. The church at Ephesus was doing everything properly. They had all the right actions and doctrine. They epitomized the idea of so many church folks today who think they just need to check all the boxes. Jesus’ words to them should challenge all of us:

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. Revelation 2:4-5

The word consider is where remembering comes into play. Motives (love) matter to Jesus so they must matter to us. But what about the things we do well? Paul cautioned the Ephesians (and us) against faulty remembering. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace – not our good works – because we would brag about ourselves. Even with the caution, we are still prone to prideful attitudes. The thought extends into Ephesians 2:10. The good works we do were ordained by God beforehand that we should walk in them. There is nothing for us to brag about! ALL the glory is His.

Remembering – Two Positives

We recall the past for two primary reasons: correction and encouragement. the major thoughts on correction are noted above. But looking back encourages us in multiple ways. First, our faith is strengthened. Paul wrote

in Romans 1:16-17 that we live from faith to faith. Faith is challenging because it requires us to believe and act in real time – not knowing how things will turn out. And as we continue to do that, we are able to take ever larger steps of faith. I can remember so many times when I was in that place. The thought was this:

Lord, if You don’t do this then it can’t be done.

Those days are scary when they come. But they are such blessings when we look back on them.

And looking back on our steps of faith encourages us in our worship. Just go to the Psalms and start reading. You won’t go very far before you see praises offered to God for His answers to urgent prayers. I find myself joining those Psalmists. We don’t see all that God is doing in the moment. We trust that He is leading even though we can’t see the big picture. But eventually we arrive at a future point in time where we can see how His mighty hand was at work. It’s in those moments that our hearts passionately sing in praise:

I have lived in the goodness of God.

I’ll close this section with a double-edged thought. We know the Word is a double-edged sword. But God’s design for our ministry is also two-sided. We get to minister to people. But God calls others alongside and we get to minister with people. I can’t imagine either of those groups of people being taken out of my life. We love the friends (disciples) we have made in so many places and we are so grateful to equip them for their ministries. And we also have a deep love for those we get to minister with. It has truly been amazing to see the number of people God has touched to give, to go, to equip, to pray and to encourage. As the song says:

His goodness is running after me.  

Remembering But Pressing On

Continuing the thought process, healthy remembrance should cause us to press on. You see, even healthy remembering has limits. No matter how many good things God may have accomplished through the ministry He has given us to do, we cannot live in the past. We are to number our days (Psalm 90:12) as a mechanism to gain wisdom. And the wisdom of the Word is for us to redeem the fleeting amount of time we have in this life.

That’s the attitude Paul exemplified in Philippians 3:13-14. Notice:

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. (emphasis added)

Paul wasn’t clueless about his past ministry successes. He just wasn’t dwelling on his past. We live in Today and there are new opportunities for us to serve the King and His Kingdom. The writer of Hebrews said it another way:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

Many are looking on. They hear what we say and they see what we do. When those two things match up then our witness is a good one. If not, then we are entangled in sin and cannot run our race effectively. Faulty remembering can be part of that entanglement. But we are to fix our focus on the Finisher: Jesus Christ. He is the One Who lies ahead. When we see Him our faith will be sight and we will be like Him (I John 3:2). That is remembering but pressing on!

Forgetting The Difficulties

We are to follow Jesus’ example to prevent becoming weary and losing heart. And that is a constant danger. The size and scope of ministry can cause us to lose heart. A faltering economy can do the same. Calamities of various kinds – here at home or on the mission field – can tempt believers to become discouraged. But remembering what Christ endured for us makes our difficulties pale in comparison. Our troubles are light afflictiions (II Corinthians 4:17) that don’t hold a candle to the joy that awaits the faithful servants of the Lord.

With that said, it’s sometimes it’s hard to keep on keeping-on. And that’s why Galatians 6:8-10 tells us:

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

There it is. Our path forward into an effective future is to continue doing in Jesus’ name – Equipping For Life. We don’t grow tired of any of the following:

• Praying
• Going
• Giving
• Teaching
• Building
• Serving
• Preaching
• Giving
• Sending
• Equipping
• Being gtateful for every opportunity
  

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To that end, I am anticipating future ministry. And I encourage you in remembering but pressing on!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

P.S. There are a few more ‘moments to remember’ posted in the gallery below. I hope you have enjoyed the devotional post as well as the ‘look back’ on five years as EquipUs.

Memory Gallery

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  Construction assessment for church in Batey 8

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  Class in Colombia, S.A.

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  Equipping pastors with transportation

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  A new well & water system in La Romana

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  Pastor training in Tamayo - 2020

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  2 pastor friends - One I minister with; One I minister to