“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.”
(John 20:27–28, NLT)
(John 20:27–28, NLT)
![Picture](/uploads/9/8/0/9/98092766/published/your-mistakes_1.jpg)
“The story is told of a new bank president who met with his predecessor and said, “I would like to know what have been the keys to your success.” The older gentleman looked at him and replied, “Young man, I can sum it up in two words: Good decisions.” To that the young man responded, “I thank you immensely for that advice, sir, but how does one come to know which are the good decisions?” “One word, young man,” replied the sage. “Experience.” “That’s all well and good,” said the younger, “but how does one get experience?” “Two words,” said the elder. “Bad decisions.””
(MBI’s Today In The Word, November, 1989, p. 23)
The bank president knew that in order to be successful at important things in life, you needed to learn from your mistakes, learn from missteps, learn from previous bad decisions. This is especially important in the spiritual and moral realms. If you do not learn from your mistakes, your sins, your misguided attempts to live faithfully; you will never grow closer to Christ. Faith involves learning, discipleship, overcoming errors, dealing with your sin, recognizing spiritual warfare, praying with intention.
Even the disciples had to learn to deal with spiritual mistakes and sin.
In the scripture reading from John, chapter 20, there is mention of Jesus speaking to the disciple, Thomas. This scripture occurs after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It is a miracle Jesus was standing before Thomas. Yet, until this moment, Thomas had doubted the stories of Jesus’ resurrection. Because of this, Jesus came to the disciples and spoke directly to Thomas. Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side.” (John 20:27). Jesus wanted Thomas to know for certain, by touching Jesus’ wounds from the cross, that our Lord was resurrected. When Thomas did so, he could only respond with amazement, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus made sure Thomas learned his lesson. To confirm it, Jesus commanded Thomas, “Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” Jesus needed Thomas to let go of his disbelief and hold fast to the understanding that Jesus was now resurrected. Death had no hold over Jesus. Jesus’ mission was complete. Thomas’ mission was about to start.
Thomas had to learn for himself that belief was required to be an apostle for Christ. Thomas was required to give up his disbelief, move past his doubts, and believe with his heart and soul. Thomas’ response shows that he did just that. He learned from his mistake.
Have you learned from your spiritual misdeeds, mistakes, failures, and sins?
If you look closely at this scripture for today, Jesus wasn’t trying to rub Thomas’ doubts in his face. Jesus did not intend to make Thomas look like a fool or forever feel guilt and shame. All Jesus wanted was for Thomas to move past his doubts to belief. Before Thomas could ever be utilized by Jesus for ministry, Thomas needed to make this spiritual shift, let go of this sinful attitude of doubt, and believe completely in Jesus. Thomas made the spiritual leap. Now, you get to learn from Thomas’ mistake and change.
But will you?
Jennifer approached her pastor with the news that she was pregnant. Knowing the young woman of nineteen was unmarried, the pastor inquired of the father and her plans. Jennifer felt so embarrassed telling the pastor she admired what got her into this predicament. She expected her pastor to lay into her, tell her how sinful she was, berate her choices, and yell at her to repent. Instead, what she got was something different. Her pastor hugged her. With disappointment and sadness, he talked with her about some difficult and big decisions coming up for her. He held her hand throughout. They talked. With tears in their eyes, they shared her worries and fears and hopes and dreams. The pastor left after a prayer and another hug.
Jennifer’s mother asked her later how it went with the pastor. Jennifer replied, “Mom, I know I messed up. I know I sinned. I know about the mistakes. Pastor reminded me that I needed to make things right with God and for the baby. I need to make important decisions and need God’s help to make the right ones. Thank you for being so loving, Mom. And I need to thank Pastor Tom again. I’m getting my head on straight. I need to work through this. I’m glad to have you all to help me. I love you, Mom!”
Today, Jennifer is married with three children. She married her high school sweetheart not long after she became pregnant by him. Jennifer didn’t marry her boyfriend out of obligation or because he was the father of her child. With her pastor’s counsel, she chose to marry him because she believed God sent him to be her soulmate. Jennifer and her husband continue to have a warm place in their hearts for God’s love, grace, and forgiveness. In fact, Jennifer has since visited every mother in the congregation who got pregnant while single. She sees it as her mission to keep them close to God and faithful throughout that frightening time.
It is important you learn from your missteps, errors, sins, and failures. Satan would love to have you forever doubting and mired in regret. He would love to have you feel guilty enough to pull away from Almighty God. Jesus would rather you learn from your mistakes and come closer to HIM. Jesus would rather you believe than doubt.
What do you need to learn from your past? What doubts might Jesus enjoy seeing you move past? Take some time to pray and ponder the scripture for today!
(MBI’s Today In The Word, November, 1989, p. 23)
The bank president knew that in order to be successful at important things in life, you needed to learn from your mistakes, learn from missteps, learn from previous bad decisions. This is especially important in the spiritual and moral realms. If you do not learn from your mistakes, your sins, your misguided attempts to live faithfully; you will never grow closer to Christ. Faith involves learning, discipleship, overcoming errors, dealing with your sin, recognizing spiritual warfare, praying with intention.
Even the disciples had to learn to deal with spiritual mistakes and sin.
In the scripture reading from John, chapter 20, there is mention of Jesus speaking to the disciple, Thomas. This scripture occurs after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. It is a miracle Jesus was standing before Thomas. Yet, until this moment, Thomas had doubted the stories of Jesus’ resurrection. Because of this, Jesus came to the disciples and spoke directly to Thomas. Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side.” (John 20:27). Jesus wanted Thomas to know for certain, by touching Jesus’ wounds from the cross, that our Lord was resurrected. When Thomas did so, he could only respond with amazement, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus made sure Thomas learned his lesson. To confirm it, Jesus commanded Thomas, “Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” Jesus needed Thomas to let go of his disbelief and hold fast to the understanding that Jesus was now resurrected. Death had no hold over Jesus. Jesus’ mission was complete. Thomas’ mission was about to start.
Thomas had to learn for himself that belief was required to be an apostle for Christ. Thomas was required to give up his disbelief, move past his doubts, and believe with his heart and soul. Thomas’ response shows that he did just that. He learned from his mistake.
Have you learned from your spiritual misdeeds, mistakes, failures, and sins?
If you look closely at this scripture for today, Jesus wasn’t trying to rub Thomas’ doubts in his face. Jesus did not intend to make Thomas look like a fool or forever feel guilt and shame. All Jesus wanted was for Thomas to move past his doubts to belief. Before Thomas could ever be utilized by Jesus for ministry, Thomas needed to make this spiritual shift, let go of this sinful attitude of doubt, and believe completely in Jesus. Thomas made the spiritual leap. Now, you get to learn from Thomas’ mistake and change.
But will you?
Jennifer approached her pastor with the news that she was pregnant. Knowing the young woman of nineteen was unmarried, the pastor inquired of the father and her plans. Jennifer felt so embarrassed telling the pastor she admired what got her into this predicament. She expected her pastor to lay into her, tell her how sinful she was, berate her choices, and yell at her to repent. Instead, what she got was something different. Her pastor hugged her. With disappointment and sadness, he talked with her about some difficult and big decisions coming up for her. He held her hand throughout. They talked. With tears in their eyes, they shared her worries and fears and hopes and dreams. The pastor left after a prayer and another hug.
Jennifer’s mother asked her later how it went with the pastor. Jennifer replied, “Mom, I know I messed up. I know I sinned. I know about the mistakes. Pastor reminded me that I needed to make things right with God and for the baby. I need to make important decisions and need God’s help to make the right ones. Thank you for being so loving, Mom. And I need to thank Pastor Tom again. I’m getting my head on straight. I need to work through this. I’m glad to have you all to help me. I love you, Mom!”
Today, Jennifer is married with three children. She married her high school sweetheart not long after she became pregnant by him. Jennifer didn’t marry her boyfriend out of obligation or because he was the father of her child. With her pastor’s counsel, she chose to marry him because she believed God sent him to be her soulmate. Jennifer and her husband continue to have a warm place in their hearts for God’s love, grace, and forgiveness. In fact, Jennifer has since visited every mother in the congregation who got pregnant while single. She sees it as her mission to keep them close to God and faithful throughout that frightening time.
It is important you learn from your missteps, errors, sins, and failures. Satan would love to have you forever doubting and mired in regret. He would love to have you feel guilty enough to pull away from Almighty God. Jesus would rather you learn from your mistakes and come closer to HIM. Jesus would rather you believe than doubt.
What do you need to learn from your past? What doubts might Jesus enjoy seeing you move past? Take some time to pray and ponder the scripture for today!