Everyone Makes Mistakes

Scripture:

Gensis 38:24-26 (ESV)

About three months later Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral.  Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality.”  And Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.”  Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.

Devotional:

To be honest I am not sure why chapter 38 is in the Bible.  I do know it is a story God wants us to know about.  Otherwise it wouldn’t have been added.  Judah’s wife passed away.  His oldest two sons had also died.  Shelah was supposed to marry Tamar after the deaths of his older brothers.  Judah came up with a loophole in fear of losing him as well.  On a road trip Judah makes a mistake.  In the verses above Tamar identifies him as the man who slept with her. 

Reading about Judah’s story reminds me of the fact that we all have our moments.  At some point we make mistakes.  As I read through different chapters of the Bible, I think why were the Israelites so dense?  Why would they keep turning their backs from God?  Why repeatedly fall away?  Unlike the Israelites who lived it out I can read in minutes or a few hours about entire generations.  They lived through decades and centuries what I read in moments.  Sitting from where I am it is easy to be judgmental.

Looking back at my life I can see the many mistakes I have made.  I see where I have fallen.  In truth I am no better than they were.  Also, it is not my place to judge.  As I think about Judah and what happens from giving in to a moment of passion.  I think of all the times I messed up because of a moment of desire or passion.  I mess up because I am impatient.  I mess up because of…

It is a simple fact; we have all made mistakes in our lives.  We have all sinned.  We take matters into our own hands.  Maybe God doesn’t give us the answer we want.  Maybe we do not like waiting as long as God tells us to wait.  Maybe it is something else entirely.  Whatever the reason we take matters into our own hands.  Maybe we make a mistake for another reason entirely.  It does not matter how or why.  The fact is we have sinned.  We have made a mistake. 

The good news is that we have redemption.  We have forgiveness.  We have a restored relationship with the Father because of the Son.  No matter what it is we can turn to Him and ask to be forgiven.  We are forgiven…

Miracles Will Happen

Scripture:

Galatians 5:18-26 (ESV)

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Devotion:

If you look around you can see hatred, envy, animosity, impurity, immorality, and the list goes on.  But if we live by the Spirit we are above all that.  We have it in us to show and give kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, and most of all love.  It doesn’t matter who we are or what our past is.  God loves us, each and everyone of us.  He loves us so much that Christ came, lived, suffered, and died for us.  He did this so that through Him we can have a restored relationship with God.  Through Him we are filled with His spirit and can live better lives filled with the fruits of the Spirit.

It does not mean life is easy or that it will miraculously become perfect.  But if each of us commit our lives to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us we can live out the fruits of the spirit.  If each of us offers love, patience, kindness, gentleness to others think of how much better things would be.  If we put others first, before ourselves, as Christ did think about how much better our communities would be and how much stronger our families would be.  Putting someone else’s needs and wants before yours will work miracles in your relationships and miracles in our communities.

I challenge each of us to try putting someone else’s desires and needs before our own.  Think of others first.  You might not see the results the first few times.  Rest assured if you keep at it you will see changes occur…  Miracles will happen…  Let us get rid of hate and selfishness.  Let us rid ourselves of the fruits of the world, fruits of the enemy.  Take on the fruits of the Sprit by allowing the Holy Spirit to come into your life and make a difference…

God's Hand at Work

Scripture:

Genesis 31:42 (ESV)

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”

Devotional:

It is amazing what God does for us.  Even before Jacob fully accepted God as his God he was watched over.  God had blessed and protected Jacob.  Jacob prospered despite how others treated him.  Laban his father-in-law tried to cheat Jacob.  Laban pursued Jacob and God gave him a warning.  God intercedes for us all the time.  God protects us and provides for us, even if we do not see or recognize it.

Can you look back on your life and see where God has provided?  Can you see where He has protected?  Do you see where God has interceded for your benefit?  Sometimes it doesn’t look like it.  Sometimes it might appear that we have been abandoned.  But if you look close enough and deep enough you will see God’s involvement in your life.

How many times have anyone of us prayed for something and felt that the prayer was not answered, or it was answered with a no?  God didn’t give us what we wanted.  God has left us.  God has…  If you really take a look at the events in your life you will probably see where God said no to one thing only to give you something better.  God might have said no only to protect you. 

We may never fully see God’s hand at work in our lives.  You can be assured that He is at work.  He has been with you in the past.  He is with you today.  He will be with you in the future.  If God says no to something now you just need to wait.  God has something better in store for you.  God will protect and provide.  He is with each one of us.  He is there working in our lives even if we cannot see it or feel it…

Despite US

Scripture:

Genesis 29:18-25 (ESV)

Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”  Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”  So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”  So, Laban gathered together all the people of the place and made a feast.  But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and he went in to her.  (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)  And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”

Devotional:

Oh, how the deceiver became the deceived.  Jacob deceived his father Isaac and received the blessing meant for Esau.  Jacob left his parents to live with an uncle because of Esau’s anger at losing his blessing from his father.  Eventually Jacob does accept God as his God and not just his father’s God.  Genesis 28:20-21 (ESV) “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God…” 

How many of God’s chosen people have shady backgrounds?  Abraham who is known for great faith lied and deceived two different rulers.  He still was faithful to God.  David, a man after God’s own heart, committed adultery and murder.  Both were used by God and were great men of faith.  Both followed God and sought out His will.  I can give other examples, but the point is that none of the people God used were perfect. 

What is it that we might have said or done?  Each of us have sin in our lives.  Each of us have had weak moments.  But we can all be used by God in tremendous ways.  It doesn’t matter what our background is or where we came from.  What matters is our faith.  Through our faith the condition of our heart will change.  Through faith the Holy Spirit will change our hearts and our lives.  Through faith God will use us. 

Do not think I cannot do this, or I am not smart enough or strong enough.  God has shown us time after time that He can use anyone.  Look at Gideon.  He was the least of the least and yet he became a great profit of God.  Look at David, a small shepherd boy who became one of the greatest kings.  Noah built an ark.  Moses led God’s people to freedom.  The list goes on and on…  If God can use them and change the world, I believe He can use us.  I firmly believe that God does not call the qualified.  But that God qualifies those He calls. 

What is God calling you to do?  Pause and listen, wait, and hear Him.  He will make His will known to you.  If in doubt read the scriptures and ask fellow believers.  One thing you can be sure of no matter what it is God calls you to do it will not go against His character.  If what you think He is calling you to does not match up with what the Bible says you can be sure He isn’t calling you to it.   You can also be sure that God will equip you and be with you the entire time.  You can do whatever it is through Him.  After all He gave us the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:4 (ESV) “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”