IT HAPPENS TO THE BEST OF US

I have been very busy as of late--providing pastoral care to families, working projects to help strengthen our congregation's ministry, and coaching some of our leaders. Today I am in Ohio to visit some of my kids and to speak tomorrow and Friday for the Great Lakes Conference. I know we are overdue for a devotional and so I am sharing this one from my good friend Dale Miller, who has contributed before.-STEVE

 
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

"It Happens to the Best of Us!"
"These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."  1 Corinthians 10:11, NIV
 
        A pastor was building a fence while the neighbor's twelve-year-old son watched.  The pastor smiled and said, "Interested in carpentry, huh?"
        "Nope," the boy replied.  "Just waitin' to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer!"

        I know you've heard it said before, but it's more true today than ever before . . . You are the only Bible some people will ever read . . . and they're watching to see how your life lines up with what you profess.  Some are hoping for confirmation of the life-changing power of Jesus in you.  Others are looking for a chance to say, "See!  Christians are all hypocrites!"  We all want to set a good example, but sometimes we mess up and fall short.  And as humbling as it is to mess up, God uses those failures to "make it clear that our . . . power is from Him, not . . . ourselves" (2 Corinthians 4:7, NLT).

        God doesn't glaze over the shortcomings of even the most notable saints.  They're "all . . . written down so . . . we don't repeat their mistakes" (1 Corinthians 10:11, TM).  Abraham, the "friend of God," lied about Sarah being his wife (See Genesis 12:10-29).  Moses, the mighty leader, got angry and disobeyed God.  David, a man after God's own heart, committed adultery and then tried to cover his tracks with murder (See 2 Samuel 11:15).  Peter, leader of the church, denied Jesus not once but three times (See Luke 22:54-62).  John Mark gave up and went home during a missionary trip (See Acts 15:38).  They're all in there . . . warts and all . . . and Paul says, "We are just as capable of messing up as they were" (1 Corinthians 10:12, TM).

        So don't get discouraged when you stumble.
        Admit your mistake . . .
        Apologize to the people involved . . .
        Ask God for forgiveness . . .
        Forgive yourself . . .
        Learn from what happened . . .
        And move on!
                Because it happens to the best of us!

Not even close to being close to perfect,
Pastor Dale



Pastor Dale Miller, Jr. is privileged to serve as the Senior Pastor of the Newburg First Church of God
"Where Christ is found, love is felt, and lives are changed!"
260 Newburg Road, Newburg, PA  17240

Mailing address: PO Box 160, Newburg, 17240