We are in the second week of the new year. So how are you coming on your New Year’s Resolutions? I only made one and frankly I’m not doing so well. Mine was to make fewer mistakes this year than I made last year. Instead of making fewer I think I am on a record-setting pace. Alas. I am so thankful mistakes aren’t sins. Well, some are. Sins are mistakes but not all mistakes are sins. Sometimes I think young people think we old guys just don’t know we are messing up. That’s not so. We know.
Someone told me once that Jesus never made a mistake because He was perfect. I really don’t think so. He was a carpenter. There had to be days when He cut a board too short or hit His finger with a hammer. Those things are not moral issues. He was morally perfect – not perfect perfect. In terms of morality Paul assures us Jesus had His share of temptations. If He didn’t He just doesn’t understand the human condition. But He does understand. Paul wrote, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15. It’s one of the best verses in the Bible. I get so much courage from it especially from the verse that follows. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
I really like the word “boldly.” We don’t have to crawl or beg. We are sons and daughters. We can come asking for grace and know from Ephesians 2 that we will receive lavish amounts. Hooray!
Written by Roger Bothwell on Januay 10, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org