Yesterday

For the past two weeks we have discussed the topic of “Today” and “Tomorrow.” It can be easy to live in tomorrow and not focus on today. The same could be said about “Yesterday.” It’s easy to live in the past. Some people live in the past with respect to their success. They relish in their success from the past, which, in turn can hinder future success. Then there are others who live in the past with respect to their mistakes. Some people focus on all that they have done wrong and have a hard time moving forward. They may even question if God has really forgiven them of their sins from the past. Yet, we are promised by the Holy Spirit in (1 John 1:9) that “If confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  

Have you struggled with believing this to be true?

If we’re going to focus on “Yesterday” it should be with what God has done! Remembering the great and marvelous works God has done in the past is something we should never forget. In (Deuteronomy 8:11-20), God reminded Israel to remember what He had done for them. Here’s a portion of what the LORD said.

“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.”

It’s easy to forget what God has done for us “Yesterday.” It’s no wonder God made Israel to make memorials as a way of remembering His great works, (Joshua 4:20-24). Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as that we might remember His sacrifice. “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).

Remembering what God has done in the past should help us to live for Him both today and tomorrow! When we travel back to the past, let it be for the purpose of remembering God’s great power. Let us to do it learn and live from Israel (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).