DELIBERATELY NEGLECTING

DELIBERATELY NEGLECTING

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Philippians [MKJV] 3:12-15  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect [mature in mental and moral character], be of this mind. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.

Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:1016  Therefore in all things it behoved him [Christ Jesus] to be made like His brothers, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people. For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to rescue those who are being tempted. … So then there remains a rest to the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Therefore let us labor to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief. For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

    Mindset, how we see life, others, and self may be influenced adult narrow application of words when we are growing up. “Neglect” was just such a word for me, the implication always having to do with shoddy careless activity. Why am I thinking of this now so many decades distant from childhood? Because in exercising MOTI (More Out Than In) I can’t help but remember things long past that involved couplet neglect-guilt-shame.

  The remedy for the return of this counterproductive triumvirate lies in resting in the forgiveness of our High Priest, Lord Jesus Christ; fleeing to the pursuit of our brimming invitation presented by Him.

  As Saul, the Apostle Paul had a horrific history of Gestapo-like religious activity. (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2)

  Philippians 3:13-14 are 2 of my favorite verses because they taught me the other, good, side of neglect.   

  How easy is it to actually forget our history? Are we capable of blotting out memories bad or good? No! The Greek “forgetting” does not mean some sort of miraculous permanent erasure of memories that hinder our spiritual, mental, emotional, physical well-being. The original Greek means by implication that we are to neglect dwelling on harmfully pondering the past.

  Let us indeed learn from the past lest we repeat its childishness, but when detrimentally invasive incursions decide for deliberately neglecting.

EBB4

PS: One of the working areas of 8 decades is my memories are congressional easily and often stimulated throughout my days.