If you lived in the United States in the '90s and had a television, undoubtedly you were exposed to Ron Popeil selling his wares. I remember how many times I saw him bustle through a kitchen in an apron demonstrating Ronco products. Countless times during his pitches the famous inventor and pitchman repeated with an enthusiastic studio audience, "Set it and forget it!" This memorable and simple phrase tapped into a desire which appeals to many people. The selling point of the "Showtime Rotisserie" is how it produced consistent quality results with minimal effort. People had better things to do than fiddle with timers and temperature controls, and the idea of setting and forgetting sounded great. We all have enough to remember and worry about, right? One issue Ron's clever catchphrase didn't address was how to remember to "set it" in the first place!
What is the typical human response when we can't forget about something? We obsess over the thing. We worry and lose sleep. How we would love to just "Set it and forget it!" so our troubles would be over with minimal work and effort! The truth may very well be the only thing you can "set and forget" is a rotisserie roast, chicken, or leg of lamb. Something as simple as keeping the lawn green and weed-free can weigh upon a mind, and how much more do issues which arise from relationships or hurts from the past! You cannot "set and forget" a marriage, parenting, home or car maintenance, or concerning following Jesus. It is impossible for us to forget bad things which have happened or things people have said to us or about us. At the same time we must progress through those things, for it we "set" on them our minds will be fixed on them. Life is full of labour, and daily working out our salvation practically is what God has called us to do. Jesus forbid His disciples to worry, something which comes as natural for humans as drawing breath.
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Paul did not forget his past, but it no longer defined him. He did not continually grieve his failures or take pride in his apparent success. Like a chef carefully monitors the temperature of an oven, wok, or range, so Paul kept his attention dialed in on Jesus Christ and his call to follow. Similar to a rotisserie oven Paul basically did one thing: he pressed on with his life committed to Jesus Christ. An upward call involves climbing and hard work, but God would be faithful to enable Paul to run with endurance the race set before him. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to keep casting our cares upon Jesus because He cares for us.
"Set it and forget it!" may work for rotisserie chicken, but not for followers of Jesus Christ. We are called to remember and proclaim the love of Jesus Christ demonstrated on the cross until He comes back. We are to forget the things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, even if we do so with trepidation. All the better for us if we do so with fear and trembling, for then we will be reminded to trust God with each step we take. Praise the LORD, for He does not forget us!
What is the typical human response when we can't forget about something? We obsess over the thing. We worry and lose sleep. How we would love to just "Set it and forget it!" so our troubles would be over with minimal work and effort! The truth may very well be the only thing you can "set and forget" is a rotisserie roast, chicken, or leg of lamb. Something as simple as keeping the lawn green and weed-free can weigh upon a mind, and how much more do issues which arise from relationships or hurts from the past! You cannot "set and forget" a marriage, parenting, home or car maintenance, or concerning following Jesus. It is impossible for us to forget bad things which have happened or things people have said to us or about us. At the same time we must progress through those things, for it we "set" on them our minds will be fixed on them. Life is full of labour, and daily working out our salvation practically is what God has called us to do. Jesus forbid His disciples to worry, something which comes as natural for humans as drawing breath.
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Paul did not forget his past, but it no longer defined him. He did not continually grieve his failures or take pride in his apparent success. Like a chef carefully monitors the temperature of an oven, wok, or range, so Paul kept his attention dialed in on Jesus Christ and his call to follow. Similar to a rotisserie oven Paul basically did one thing: he pressed on with his life committed to Jesus Christ. An upward call involves climbing and hard work, but God would be faithful to enable Paul to run with endurance the race set before him. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to keep casting our cares upon Jesus because He cares for us.
"Set it and forget it!" may work for rotisserie chicken, but not for followers of Jesus Christ. We are called to remember and proclaim the love of Jesus Christ demonstrated on the cross until He comes back. We are to forget the things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead, even if we do so with trepidation. All the better for us if we do so with fear and trembling, for then we will be reminded to trust God with each step we take. Praise the LORD, for He does not forget us!
Hello Pastor Ben. I am so glad to stop by your post and go through the post which is so encouraging. I am blessed and feel privileged and honored to get connected with you as well as know you through your profile on the blogger and the blog post. I love getting connected with the people of God around the globe to be encouraged, strengthened and praying for one another. I have been in the Pastoral ministry for last 37 yrs in this great city of Mumbai a city with a great contrast where richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reachout to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the brokenhearted. we also encourage young and the audlts from the west to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation. We would love to have young people from your church to come to Mumbai to work with us during their vacation time. In the past many young people from Australia and New Zeland came through YWAM to work with us and had life changing experience. We also would love to have you come to encourage the body of Christ through the ministry of the Word of God in the city of Mumbai. Looking forward to hear from you very soon. God's richest blessings on you, your family and ministry. Also wishing you a blessed and a Christ centered rest of the year 2017. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar Wankhede
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