One of my staff members walked by my office, saying, “I can’t believe I did that!” I laughed and tried to make him feel better by saying, “Hey – just think about it – you just learned a lesson!” He then replied, “But I’ve learned this lesson several times!” Oh my, I think that we’ve all “been there and done that!” We have been taught. We know. Then, we forget. We have to be reminded. Then, we know. We fall short. . . You get the picture.
This happens in the lives of Christians. We know that “all sin and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) But, we have been given the Bible – which includes the plan of salvation. Upon hearing and believing God’s Word, repentance and confession of sins will lead us to being “buried with Him in baptism.” (Colossians 2:12) Then, comes the hard part – “being faithful unto death in order to be given that crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) There are times when we stumble. We say something that we shouldn’t. We hurt someone’s feelings. We may become “a stumbling block to them that are weak.” (I Corinthians 8:9) Just when we think that we’ve learned our lesson – we do it again!
I’m so thankful that “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:7) We have fellowship – me and God! How amazing is that! “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) We may have to “learn our lessons” several times, but thank you, Lord, for the opportunity for forgiveness. In Jesus name, Amen. God Bless, Courtney