Don’t become discouraged by
mistakes and rebukes. Children make many mistakes and must often be told they
are wrong. How often does a child fall while learning to walk? They fall again
and again gathering bumps and bruises. They spill their milk, don’t hold their
spoon properly, fall off their bikes, and come to bat in the bottom of the
ninth with the winning run in scoring position and strike out. Parents are
continually correcting, instructing, and punishing, till we almost feel sorry
for the kids. Growing up is tough! If kids are going to become mature, they
have to keep going in spite of mistakes and rebukes. And someday they will look
back on their own childish mistakes and just smile. Likewise, new converts will
make many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong. Some of the greatest
Bible characters committed terrible errors and had to be rebuked.
·
Moses made excuses when God called him to lead
Israel out of bondage.
·
David committed adultery with Bathsheba and was rebuked
by Nathan.
·
Peter denied Jesus three times.
·
Paul persecuted Christians before his conversion.
·
Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection.
·
All apostles forsook Jesus when He was arrested
and crucified.
Yet all this are remembered as some
of God’s greatest servants.
Great servants are not people who live without ever sinning,
but people who learn from their mistakes and go on to serve God faithfully. Judas
betrayed Jesus and he is remembered as a traitor. Peter denied Jesus three times
and is remembered as great apostle. What is the difference? Judas, after
betraying Jesus hung himself. Peter, after denying Jesus, repented and went to
work preaching the gospel.
Proverbs 29:1 – A person is destroyed not simply because he
errs, but because he becomes stubborn when he is rebuked and will not
repent. What is needed is repentance and
patience to learn to do right.
By Floyd Harris:
No comments:
Post a Comment