“I persecuted the church of God. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 15:9; Philippians 3:13-14).

When Paul said that he was “forgetting those things which are behind,” he didn’t mean that they were wiped from his mind. Rather the idea of this word “forgetting” literally means to “let go, no longer cling to, no longer to embrace.” Paul remembered the past things he did. So do we. But just as did Paul, we must “let go” of those sinful things from our past that we have confessed to the Lord. We cannot go back and relive our past. It’s past. That’s why it’s called the past! As a Christian, I can let go of these and press toward finishing strong in the race God has given to me. More about this tomorrow.

For today: Isn’t it wonderful to be forgiven by our awesome God. Now maybe it is time to forgive ourselves!