BURN THOSE BOATS
Once again, I had my three little words chosen then our visiting pastor Jeff Jackson gave me three new words that had to be spoken since this is our first Monday of the new year.
Yesterday Jeff spoke about the conqueror Hernando Cortez. Cortez lived in Spain and had heard about all the worlds riches that were in the new land. He also had learned how no one could obtain the riches that had been in others possession for 600 years. Cortez decided that he was going to conquer the treasure. He began studying how others had tried to obtain the treasure. He took on a new approach. Cortez realized that everyone had to be fully committed. He also understood that these warriors that went with him had to have motivation behind the battle, so he promised them a part of the treasure. When they arrived, they began rehearsing how to take on the enemy. When it was time to go into battle, Cortez gave the warrior a pep talk and then said three little words that change the motivation behind the battle. Cortez said, “BURN THOSE BOATS!”
We have begun a new year the year of 2019. Ask yourself,
- What held me back in 2018 of being fully committed to Christ?
- What do I need to change during this new year to be all in?
Whatever is holding you back remember that Christ makes new creations. He doesn’t look back He is a forgiving God.
We read in
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
WORDS TO REMEMBER IN THIS SCRIPTURE:
- FORGET THE FORMER THINGS
- DO NOT DWELL
- NEW THING
- MAKING A WAY
Just what is this scripture saying? Remember the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. They would cry out to God, and he would hear and deliver them. A new exodus would happen, and God would lead them through. The past miracles weren’t anything compared to what God would do for his people in the future.
The same is for us. When we surrender and become fully committed to Christ the past is nothing compared to our future with Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 New International Version (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
WORDS TO REMEMBER IN THIS SCRIPTURE:
- NEW CREATION- bringing something into existence for the first time
- RECONCILIATION- restoration, He is restoring us
Just like Cortez led his warriors into a war zone we walk in a war zone every day. Because of the acts of Adam and Eve we are stomping through the mud daily. However, the Bible tells us how to combat against evil. We should wake up every day, put on God’s full armor and become His good warriors.
All of us have a past. Many of us never adequately dealt with those issues that we tend to revisit. So today is the day. It is the day to get up deal with the past, let it go and be fully committed to Christ.
God says that anyone who is trying to move forward in his walk and call for God but keeps looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62) Paul says that the one thing he makes sure to do in his walk with the lord is to forget those things which are behind him and press forward into those things which no lie ahead of him. (Philippians 3:12)
You have a choice to make. Like Paul states- BUT ONE THING I DO- this means you can make a choice and do it on a regular and consistent basis to BURN THOSE BOATS, or you can choose to stay fully bound in the chains.
What is it going to be for 2019? You make the choice. Make the choice of BURNING THOSE BOATS of the past and pressing forward being fully committed to Christ.
CHALLENGES OF THE WEEK:
- Keep your daily appointment with God
- Dig deep into scripture
- Don’t look in the rearview mirror
- Fill you cup so you can fill others cups as well
EXTRA READING:
Letting Go of Your Past, Michael Bradley
Getting past Guilt: Overcoming Barriers to Felling Forgiven, Insight for Living Ministries
https://www.insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/getting-past-guilt-overcoming-barriers-to-feeling-forgiven
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