Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 11:4, “But Peter began and explained it to them in order.”
The last time you were critiqued or criticized for something, how did you respond? And the time before that? And the time before that? What makes this question so poignant is that in answering it, many of us will prove the very point I am inferring, and that is that we tend to be defensive when confronted on an issue. Our first inclination is to deny the accusation or make excuses as to why it happened as it did, deflecting the guilt and responsibility away from ourselves as much as possible. Ironically, our natural reaction is to do the very thing that we hear so often from others and immediately dismiss as an immature response to avoid the consequences of their actions. What we see in others as a weak attempt at preserving one’s innocence or simply saving face in light of the plain facts we immediately play out when our name is on the card. So why is that? What compels us to deny or defend in the face of the obvious? Why has no politician ever done anything that his opponent has ever accused him of? Why is every issue we are involved in always the fault of all the other people? And why do we fool ourselves into thinking we can convince everyone else of the very thing that they would be helpless to persuade us on were the shoes on the other feet? As I have said here numerous times, we are a strange, helpless lot, we humans.
Even we believers, who have a slew of biblical proverbs advising us of the wisdom in receiving correction, even we are reticent to stand up and take what scripture says is beneficial and produces good. Despite the teaching to confess our sin and examine our heart, to forego pride and ego and put others before ourselves, we still want to say we do all those things while also making excuses for ourselves and pushing the blame on someone else. In our several thousand years, we have perfected the art of trying to have it both ways. So, if you have a good reason, then let it be known. But for the other times, take your literal and proverbial medicine, and let God use correction and admonition to make you wiser and more aware of how you can still grow in the image of His Son, which brings you good and Him glory.
As we seek Him today, let your faults and your mistakes be the highlight of your day.
Have a fantastic Wednesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
