You have probably heard of the black boxes on commercial airliners. They are specially made to withstand extreme temperatures and to remain intact even underwater. They are also equipped with beacons to help investigators locate them after a crash. These boxes are essential because they record all the conversations of the flight crew with the air traffic controllers, as well as the condition and performance of the aircraft. Safety experts rely on these boxes to learn from mistakes so they can avoid them in the future.

As followers of Jesus Christ, it’s important that we learn from past mistakes as well. In Corinthians, the apostle Paul talks about what we can learn from the Israelites in the wilderness, and he says, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us…”

There’s no need to feel stuck in your past or to feel shame. But learning from the past will help you to have a brighter future. And you will be able to reach your world in new ways as you seek to live more fully for Jesus Christ.  And the lessons of the Old Testament saints and the lessons of the New Testament and the lessons that you find all over the Bible are a guidance - a leading for us to know how to walk with God every day.

This is Luis Palau.