Steve’s Devotional - What about the Past?

Key Life ^ | January 19, 2015 | Steve Brown

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Sound familiar? All clichés. They may sound nice, but clichés are often just like Band-Aids on cancer…useless.

... What do you do about your past? Let’s check out lessons from the Apostle Paul in Acts 9:21-31.

To say that Paul had a bad past is a gross understatement. As Saul, Paul lived the worst kind of sinful life you could imagine—persecuting, killing and binding up the saints of God. In fact, at this point in Acts, Paul had just participated in the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church.

What did Paul do about his past? What can you do about your past?

You and your past are forgiven.

Paul handled his past by knowing in his heart that he had been forgiven (Acts 9:17).

In 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Paul, as an old man, writes, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

God has declared every believer forgiven. You may think, That may be fine for you, but you don’t know my sins. I did things you just wouldn’t believe. I blush at night when I think about them. You are not the exception. You are forgiven. God sent his Son, the only perfect One, to die on a cross for the imperfect ones. In his sacrifice, Jesus Christ shed his blood for us—for you and for me.

... Christ died for your sin. Christ died for your past. Anything less than recognition of this fact is to make a mockery of his blood.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

Acts 9:21-31 "But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

[left that other site]

I Love Steve Brown! :-)

[ravenwolf]

Very well written and scriptural reference on every point, nothing to dispute about.

I have no other alternative but to except the one given by Paul, if he was wrong then I am lost.

But Jesus said a few things to the multitude about it also.

John 6
35 And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst.

36 But I said unto you, that you also have seen me, and you believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth to me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will not cast out.

38 Because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 Now this is the will of the Father who sent me: that of all that he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again in the last day.

40 And this is the will of my Father that sent me: that every one who seeth the Son, and believeth in him, may have life everlasting, and I will raise him up in the last day.