“I can’t believe I said that!” An unkind word. A boisterous
boast. In a moment of anger, a curse word. A tidbit of gossip. A flirtatious
quip.
“I can’t believe I actually did that.” Went to a bar. Got drunk. Used drugs. Was
unfaithful to my spouse. Ratted out a friend. Took the promotion a fellow worker
deserved. Called in sick when I wasn’t. Told a lie.
“I can’t believe I thought that.” So filled with anger I wished him dead. So
filled with unforgiveness, I wished her harm. So filled with lust, I wanted
someone who belonged to another. So consumed with selfishness….
As I look back on my “sin list” since becoming a Christian, I sometimes shout
the above statements. But I’m in good company… One of the greatest believers to
ever live did too. "I don’t really understand myself,
for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate"
(Romans 7:15 NLT).
Peter probably screamed one of them as well after denying three times he knew
Jesus. Jesus told him he would; he denied the possibility but then did the very
thing he thought he was robust enough to resist (Mark 14:66-72).
God sooths my disappointment over failures by reminding me that being his child
doesn’t stamp out all temptation and sin from my life. Receiving his forgiveness
only takes a moment, but learning to think, speak and act Christ-like takes a
lifetime. It’s comforting to know God always accepts my confession of failure
and to know that in Christ all my sins are forgiven-even the ones I haven’t
spoken, thought or acted. When you behave in ways that don’t reflect your
position in Christ, take comfort in his perpetual forgiveness.
Prayer: Merciful Father, we acknowledge our frequent failure to conduct
ourselves as we should, but we thank You for continuous forgiveness and for the
repeated second chances You provide when we fail.
Martin Wiles
Hodges,
South Carolina, USA
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