MAKING IT RIGHT
When I went into the store
yesterday, I was distracted, thinking about the drawing I’m working on. I did
self-checkout and loaded the items into three bags, put them in the cart, and
out I went. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized I never paid for the
items! I have no idea why the alarm didn’t go off as I exited the store!
As I thought about this
crazy incident, I was reminded how easily Satan opens the door for people to
sin. He just slips in the opportunities so smoothly. It takes discipline to
live honestly by Biblical standards, and of course, I’m going back to the store
today and tell them all the items I got, so I can rightfully pay for them.
Even though I didn’t know
at the time that I did anything wrong, I did, and I admit it. But now, making
it right takes so much more time and effort! Darn!
Nobody wants to be wrong
at anything, but the truth is that the last perfect guy got out of here over
2000 years ago, and so all of us are going to do wrong things, no matter how
hard we try always to do things right. And we need to fix those things that are
wrong, no matter how much time or effort it takes. My small incident is nothing,
compared to some of the other things that need to be fixed, that take a lot
more time and a lot more diligence.
A form of the word “diligent” is used 61 times in the
Bible. The results of being diligent to the things that are important to God are
told to us in Exodus 15:26:
“If thou wilt diligently
hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right
in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes,
I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the
Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”
A form of the word “disciple” or “discipline” is
used 257 times, and of course, Jesus named his closest followers “disciples.”
Job tells us that God helps us toward being
disciplined because He knows we will be so much happier with the results:
“He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth
that they return from iniquity [sins specifically that come to us from our
bloodlines].
“If they obey and serve him, they shall
spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” (Job 36:10-11).
We all know there are things in our lives that
the Lord would prefer if we would change them. In other words, we usually know
when we’ve done something that’s not very good. And God knows too—we can’t hide
from our Creator! So, if we want to make things right, and God knows we do,
then He’ll find a way to let us know.
And when God makes us aware of our sin, our
bad judgment, or errors, He doesn’t want us to get all mad about it or
despondent either. To God, one sin is just as big or small as another. All can
be forgiven and all can be changed for the better.
King Solomon speaks to his children in Proverbs
3:11-12: “My son,
despise not the chastening of the Lord;
neither be weary of his
correction: for whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the
son in whom he delighteth.”
And 1 John 3: 2 tells us: “Beloved, now are we the sons [and
daughters] of God.” So being disciplined and corrected by God is a good
thing. It means He loves us.
But as every child who’s been spanked, knows: “No chastening
for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.” And as every parent knows:
“Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto
them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). A good spanking can motivate a
child to act right.
Verse 12 goes on to encourage us in how we are to respond to
God’s spankings. We are not to get all down in the dumps and pull a pity party
for ourselves. We are to get up and act right, so whatever we did doesn’t keep
happening.
“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and
the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is
lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Heb. 12: 12-13).
Being wrong can be righted as long as we admit to God that we
were wrong, and then we get back on track.
We have spiritual ability within us because of being born
again of Christ’s seed, making it so that we really can get back on track on
anything. Romans 12:1-3 tells us how:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every
man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he
ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man
the measure of faith.”
One thought at a time, we can make our minds new again on any
subject. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is definitely doable, and God
promises it’s well worth the effort.
And if you’re like me, you’ll probably want to refer back to
this preach letter throughout the year, for different incidents that may come
up or in wanting to help a friend deal with issues they may face as well.
Love, Carolyn
My books are found on Amazon,
and I believe Barnes and Noble. Even the older ones are great to read!
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wings+carolyn+molica&crid=EZNJZZUP3KHG&linkCode=ll2&linkId=db88efb13727dcb484eb29f5b1683284&sprefix=wings+carolyn+molica%2Caps%2C353&tag=jmbcsds-20&ref=as_li_ss_tl
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