The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Philippians 3:13b-14, “…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and

reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

As a boy-preacher, pastoring (some said “pestering”!) my first church, I preached one Sunday on Luke 9:62, “Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” One of the deacons came to me after the service and asked, “Preacher, do you know what that verse means?”

I simply replied, “I just preached on that passage.”

He replied, “Yes, but do you know what it means?”

Deliberately avoiding his question, I responded with a question (something worth remembering), “Tell me what it means to you.”

His response was simple: “If you’re looking backward, you can’t plow a straight furrow.”

I’ve never forgotten that. It’s a great truth for life! Paul wasn’t a farmer, but he knew the principle and had applied it to his own life. It has value for us today, especially as we get ready to commence a new year. Let me suggest the following:

1. Forget your past failures. I have a lot of them. Failures can be good teachers, if we allow ourselves to

learn from them. But they are great punishers, if we don’t! Learn from your mistakes, but don’t allow

yourself to stay focused on them. Satan wants that; but if our LORD has forgiven us those failures, what

profit is there in remembering them?

2. Forget your past successes. I’ve had them, too. The problem is not the success, it’s the dwelling on it

that causes problems. “Just think: I did that! And look how well it turned out. I’m pretty good, you know?”

And all the while I’m congratulating myself on what I did, I’m building a slippery slope on which to fall.

First off, I didn’t do anything. If there were value in the accomplishment, the credit must go to the LORD!

Additionally, while I’m becoming prideful, I’m neglecting the very thing I ought to be doing. No good there!

3. Concentrate on the future! That doesn’t mean to ignore the present; but it does mean to deal with the

present with the future clearly in mind. The “goal” is the mark on which we currently keep our eye. It’s the

ministry the LORD has given us. To some, it is the calling to the ministry; to others, missionary service; to

others, it’s the business world, where money is made to support various aspects of the LORD’s work. Yet,

we are always to keep our focus on that coming Day when we will stand before God, and give account of our stewardship. That’s what lies ahead. Are you ready? What are you doing to get ready? For as sure as

your physical birth, the Day of Accountability is coming!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”