Making Mistakes
Have you ever played Sudoku? I have an electronic version of it for the DS gaming system. I dug it out this past weekend to help me with my concentration. It really is a fun game (and helps keep my brain cells working). The problem is that on the electronic version you can only make 5 mistakes. For every mistake you make, you receive a 20 minute penalty. If you make more than the 5 allowed mistakes, the game is over.
While I was playing some games I was thinking about my salvation. I am grateful that our Lord will not close heaven because I have made more than 5 mistakes during my lifetime. He still loves me.
Paul had the same issues with making mistakes. He writes in his letter to the Romans:
“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” ~ Romans 7:18-19 (NLT)
I sometimes feel defeated by the things I do. I say like Paul “I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway”. I often fail miserably to do the right thing. When I feel I have an issue under control (like pride), I find myself having a hard time to forgive…
As I was reading the rest of Romans 7, Paul gave me hope. He writes:
“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” Romans 7:24-25 (NLT)
Did you read it? The answer is not us, but Jesus Christ, our Lord. Yes, we are sinners, but God has the solution for us. No matter how many mistakes we make in our lifetime, He gave His Son to save us from ourselves. Thanks be to God indeed.
“Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for not leaving me to my own power to make it to heaven. Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me. Thank You for Your law so that I see the need of a Savior. In the precious name of Jesus I offer You my heart and my life in gratitude. Amen.”
I am so thankful, too, that there is no “5 mistakes” rule…we always win with Jesus Christ on our side….
Oh Amen, I can relate to what Paul says, “I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Praise God, he is there to offer us hope when all we seem to do is fall on our face. It is His strength, not ours!
Bless you for this.
This is one of my favorite verses…I had a friend laugh at me once when I was complaining about my frustration, he finally said, What a Christian who failed, Tell me it ain’t so… I’m reporting you to Moses and Paul….
so yes, thank you for Jesus Christ…
and thank you for a great reminder
Connie
If there was a 5 mistake rule it would have been “game over” for me a long time ago. Thank you Lord for forgiveness.
Praise God that life is not a game with 3 strikes and you’re out(or 5 mistakes and the game is over)! His mercies begin new each day! I am humbled.
Living for Him, Joan