“But Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt” - Gen 19:26 (NIV).
There is a saying that hindsight is wisdom. This is because when one looks back with the benefit of greater knowledge most of the things look quite easy, if not romantic. Indeed we can easily beat ourselves looking back at the past since we are now in better position to know much better. Many times compared to our present challenges the past can look so attractive.
Such was the case with Lot’s wife who being led away paused to look back at the life she had left behind in Sodom. Actually there was nothing much to inspire one for Sodom had degenerated into such wickedness. The night before after being visited with angels Lot had been attacked by men who wanted to rape his visitors. “Get out of our way,” they replied. This fellow came as a foreigner and now wants to play judge! We’ll treat you worse than them” (Gen 19:9).
Let us not fall into the temptation of habitually looking back for the life we left behind. “Brothers I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead” (Phil 3:13). That is the attitude.
Prayer for today: Lord father in heaven, today I pray in the blessed name of Jesus that I always look forward to the bright future ahead that belongs in you and not the past already gone!
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
