Best Next Step

Keep Moving Forward

Brothers, 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.  Philippians 3:13-14

Disney’s “Meet the Robinsons” is a fun animated movie about a young orphan boy that is trying to find a family.  However, after 124 adoption interviews, Lewis decides he has had enough rejection.  He sets out, instead, to find his birth mother.

Now, Lewis is no ordinary 12 year old.  He is a genius who invents all sorts of gadgets.  He begins working on the Memory Scanner to search his brain to find some glimpse of the past where he will hopefully find a clue about his mother.  However, his attempt to find his past is interrupted by a visit from the future.

If you haven’t watched this movie, I won’t spoil the ending.  Let me just say that Lewis doesn’t find what he is looking for by going back in time, but rather by moving forward.  In fact, “keep moving forward” becomes the motto that he carries into the future.

Even though this is not a faith-based movie, the motto “keep moving forward” certainly applies to your life as a follower of Christ.  It will not be in your past that you find the life God has for you.  In fact, your past will keep you from moving forward.  That’s why Paul said he was going to forget what was behind him (see verse above).

More than this, Paul wrote that he would keep moving forward toward the goal that was placed before him.  But his steps into the future would not be a casual walk.  He wasn’t going to be strolling along the path of life.  Rather, Paul uses the language “strain” and “press on".  This indicates stretching out ahead; a swift pursuit towrad all that God has made available.

As you move forward along your journey of faith, there is a best next step for you to take.  It may be committing to a daily and intentional time in God’s Word.  It may be connecting with others for the purpose of doing life together.  Check out the rest of this blog where you can find some help in learning what “keep moving forward” means for you.

The First Words of Christmas

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:10-12
 
What are the first words that come to your mind when you think of Christmas? They may be single words such as joy, fun, mistletoe, or stress, debt, tired. They may be words linked together as a phrase such as Happy Holidays or Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Perhaps song titles come to your mind; "I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas", "The First Noel", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."

But before any of these words were spoken there were the words of an angel. For four hundred years, God had not spoken to Israel. Not since the days of the prophets had any word been heard from God. But the silence was broken one evening in Bethlehem. This angel had been sent with an announcement that split history in two. All that Israel had been waiting for had arrived. These truly were words of great joy!

Can you imagine what this group of shepherds thought when their peaceful evening was interrupted by this heavenly visitor? No wonder the first words the angel spoke were "Do not be afraid." 2,000 years later, does this angelic announcement rattle you? Is it somewhat startling to know what God has done in sending His Son? Have you fully allowed Him to enter your world?
What about the angel's promise of a sign? Do you find yourself searching to see evidence of God in your midst? Will you accept and follow Him by faith? Or are you struggling to hear God's voice during a season of silence where you haven’t heard from Him?

The first words of Christmas were for all the people. That included shepherds and wise men. It also includes you and me.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Let these be the first words of Christmas for you this year.