Post by Richard on Mar 27, 2007 15:13:24 GMT -5
PAST MISTAKES
_________________________
1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NRSV)
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
_________________________
Paul wrote, "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:13-14 (NRSV)
_________________________
WHEN I was a teenager, my parents encouraged me to try out for the school basketball team. I was only a mediocre athlete, but my size allowed me to play on the varsity team. My most memorable experience occurred when I shot at the wrong basket in a game and scored for the opposing team. I was embarrassed further when each time I had the ball, the opposing team shouted for me to shoot. My teammates defended me, but I felt stigmatized the entire school year because I had scored for the opposing team. I felt that I had disgraced my school.
As Christians, we may make mistakes that we feel reflect poorly on Christ and his church. Others usually forgive our mistakes, but often we cannot forgive ourselves. We fail to accept that part of the learning process is making mistakes. If we allow past mistakes to preoccupy us, we "score points" for the wrong side. There is no shame in making mistakes. The meaning of the cross is that because of God's love, grace is available for our mistakes and sins. We honor the cross when we accept God's grace and continue to try.
Prayer: O God, thank you for your reconciling love. Help us to see that you love us in spite of our shortcomings and believe in us no matter what we do. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God frees us from the past so we can live fully in the present.
-- Kenny A. Noble (Indiana, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Those unable to forgive themselves
_________________________
1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NRSV)
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
_________________________
Paul wrote, "This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:13-14 (NRSV)
_________________________
WHEN I was a teenager, my parents encouraged me to try out for the school basketball team. I was only a mediocre athlete, but my size allowed me to play on the varsity team. My most memorable experience occurred when I shot at the wrong basket in a game and scored for the opposing team. I was embarrassed further when each time I had the ball, the opposing team shouted for me to shoot. My teammates defended me, but I felt stigmatized the entire school year because I had scored for the opposing team. I felt that I had disgraced my school.
As Christians, we may make mistakes that we feel reflect poorly on Christ and his church. Others usually forgive our mistakes, but often we cannot forgive ourselves. We fail to accept that part of the learning process is making mistakes. If we allow past mistakes to preoccupy us, we "score points" for the wrong side. There is no shame in making mistakes. The meaning of the cross is that because of God's love, grace is available for our mistakes and sins. We honor the cross when we accept God's grace and continue to try.
Prayer: O God, thank you for your reconciling love. Help us to see that you love us in spite of our shortcomings and believe in us no matter what we do. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God frees us from the past so we can live fully in the present.
-- Kenny A. Noble (Indiana, U.S.A.)
PRAYER FOCUS: Those unable to forgive themselves