No Looker
All sports enthusiasts know what a “No Looker” is. Even if you aren’t you might be familiar with this saying, but for those who aren’t, it simply refers to when a player, usually in a sport like basketball, takes a shot and does not look to see if they actually scored, having the confidence and “knowing” they scored.
As I was reading a book on my last flight heading home from a one day work trip out of state I come across a verse in Luke that shook me.
Reveal: Luke 9:62: “But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
When I was reading this scripture and the comments from the book this made me think of two parts of my life I need to put better guardrails in place. First was the need to stop looking behind as to see the fruits of my labor or if the seeds I planted took root. As I reflect, I can see that this is a tendency I need to break looking back instead of focusing forward and strengthening my trust in our Lord.
Second was going back for recognition or validation. To help build some context this is the verse prior. Luke 9:61: “Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." Many times in my life I have felt called and spent too much time debating with myself and others around me where by the time I act I no longer feel the calling, wisdom, or power of the Holy Spirit and might have missed my opportunity.
Revive: Philippians 3:13: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.”
This is one of my favorite verses and what I typically take for granted is the fact it’s says “forgetting what lies behind”. What the Holy Spirit is speaking to me now is to let go and do not dwell in the past and your works. Instead press on a head and continue toward what you have been called to do. This is not an easy thing to do but by seeking Him first and surrounding ourselves with habits and people to help us to remember to reach ahead instead of behind will help reinforce this practice.
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LorD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
Matthew 17:20: “And He *said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
Revise: James 4:14: “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”
Knowing this, I know I want to spend less time contemplating, seeking recognition, or affirmation. So I don’t miss out on the blessing God had planned for the world through and for me. For when I or we start to focus the Lords calling for us about us we are not only missing out for ourselves but causing those we are unaware of reaching to miss out as well. I know longer want to live a life where when my time comes the list of what God had planned for me that I didn’t do is longer than the list that I did. My prayer this week is we all grow in our faith and trust in our Lord that we no longer have the need to look back.
Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
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Have a blessed day!
