Ponder of the Week
Week 1/12-18/2025
Suggested Scripture to Ponder this week:
Philippians 3:13-14
* Read and reread the scripture each day.
* Ask God to show you His truth through His Word.
* Ponder the scripture as you go about your day.
* Keep a record of your spiritual growth and understanding.
See thoughts on how to ponder on the "'Ponder' of the Week" main page and on the HOME page
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Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
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Commentary:
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This passage encourages Christians to keep on working and not to give up. But how does Paul do this? He says "forgetting those things which are behind". In order to focus on God's will for our lives, we have to let go of the past.
When we fail, God forgives us. We can put those failures behind us (1 John 1:9). Sometimes the regret of past sins or failures hang on in our minds. We can let them go "forgetting those things which are behind," because "God is greater than our heart" (I John 3:20) and is faithful to keep His promise to forgive.
But what about past hurts? Maybe there has been trauma in the past. Maybe a brother or sister has sinned against us. Maybe we have suffered a great loss or an injury. Maybe other believers that we looked up to have failed us.
Hurt hurts! Feeling hurt should never be belittled. God created us to be emotional beings. But when we hold on to the hurt, it begins to hurt us more, like an infection. The healing of loss and trauma takes time. It is a process that may shape how we live the rest of our lives. However, we ultimately choose to nurture the hurt, or to nurture the healing process.
This world is temporary. The things (and problems, and hurts, and losses) of this world are temporary. We can bring all these things to the Lord (I Peter 5:7) and He will heal our hearts if we will let Him (Psalm 42:11; Psalm 147:3). This is not to say it is instant, or even easy. Sometimes the "race" we run in this life is uphill over rugged terrain. Remember that this race is also temporary. The prize is ahead.
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Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised
is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV)
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