Tag Archives: accomplish God's will

Looking Forward… Not Back

There are certain things in life that are difficult to let go of and move on. This may have been a dream job that was taken away, a relationship that never panned out, or the unexpected loss of someone you loved. While there is usually some sort of grieving period depending upon the circumstance, eventually you have to begin looking forward, not back.

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 He overthrew, destroyed, and ended those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But [Lot’s] wife looked back from behind him, and she [b]became a pillar of salt, Genesis 19:24-26.

If you have ever been in a rush, especially driving in a car, you’re so focused on the traffic in front of you that you don’t think about looking back in your rear view mirror. When you’re experiencing an accident in the making or a natural disaster like Lot, adrenaline takes over. Although Moses doesn’t mention if Lot, his wife and two daughters were running or walking quickly, Lot appears to be focused on reaching Zoar.

Another also said, I will follow You, Lord, and become Your disciple and side with Your party; but let me first say good-bye to those at my home. 62 Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God, Luke 9:61-62.

Unfortunately, Lot’s wife is curious by the loud noise behind them. Moses doesn’t say if she comes to a complete stop or glances over her shoulder. Whatever she does leads to a scene from a science fiction film. Perhaps, the demise of Lot’s wife provides an important life lesson: look forward and not back. The apostle adds to this in Philippians 3:12-14, pressing on in life to accomplish God’s will for your life.

by Jay Mankus

Embrace Adversity Before it Gets the Best of You

All of the stories ever told involve some sort of conflict. Without this adversity, there is no room for growth, James 1:2-4. Whether humans beings have to endure affliction, bad luck or distress, these obstacles remove an individual from their comfort zone and force them to face the barrier standing in their way. There is really only one decision to be made, embrace adversity before it gets the best of you.

Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. 36 For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [e]carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised, Hebrews 10:35-36.

While Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was introduced in 1943, this five-stage model was expanded to include cognitive and aesthetic needs initially in 1954 and transcendence needs in 1970. Maslow understood that as human beings have their own basic needs met, there are still many more stages that one must go through until self-realization is reached. Learning to embrace adversity is a basic step toward moving up to the next level on Maslow’s chart.

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1.

Near the end of the first century, the author of Hebrews reveals the importance of adversity. When your confidence is shaken, the energy and endurance to face adversity weakens. Yet, if you want to fully accomplish God’s will for your life, you have to hang in there through thick and thin. In the passage above, you have to throw aside every encumbrance that is holding you back. Once this is discarded, you can run with perseverance as you face adversity.

by Jay Mankus