Have your words ever come back to haunt you? More than once I’ve said, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse” but thank goodness I’ve never actually done that, at least not as far as I know. Hmmm. Let’s move on.
What about those pleasantries we throw around so carelessly? “Give us a call any time you’re in town!” Then one night you’re sitting there in your jammies all ready for bed and the phone rings. “We’re on our way to the beach and thought we’d pop in for a visit!” Or how many times do we ask “How are you?” and really want to know? Imagine your surprise if Aunt Gertie replied! “Well, my arthritis has been giving me fits lately. And this rain is making my bad knee scream every morning! Not to mention my sinuses! This morning I blew my nose and you wouldn’t believe what came out!”
Imagine this scenario. I’m getting on to a kid for talking for the third (or fourth or fifth) time. “I’m sorry!” he pleads, and I respond, “Then prove it! If you really are sorry then change your behavior!” I’m pretty sure I said that to the girls at least once in their lives as well. Here’s the kicker. God has every right – and should – say that to me. How many times have I apologized for something, maybe even the same old something? If I allow myself, I can hear God say, “Then prove it.”
If my apology is true and sincere, then there should be a change in my behavior. Right? Whoa, wait a minute. It’s okay for me to ask my students to change, or even my own children, but me? Yes! We love to categorize or rank sin – the old “little, white lie” – but to God, sin is sin – big or little, demure or bold. It may not be easy, or fun, but let’s give God our sincere apology and repent (turn away from) our sin. Then we won’t have to worry about haunting words. Now about that horse…
Until our next togethering,
love ya,
Bret
