Sometimes forget that Bible people were not perfect--we read incredible stories of what God did for them and through them, we place them on pedestals as our heroes of faith...they are! But they were also human and had faults and failures--just like us!
Take the "Thunder Brothers" for instance. Now if THEY were driving that surburban, they might get pulled over for "road rage!" James and John weren't called the "sons of thunder" for nothing! I'll bet they blew it more than once. Did Jesus leave them by the wayside and move on to find some perfect people? NO - he used them, just as they were. Now He changed them by His life, His teachings and His words--but the thunder was always just below the surface, human men that they were...and yet they loved their Lord--and their Lord loved them, the "not-so-perfect" saints that they were!
...And then there was Brother Blunder...none other than Saint Peter himself.....no saint HE was at times either. He cut off a man's ear, he denied his Lord, he opened his mouth when it should have been shut...he was always in the middle of a mess. Did Jesus say, "Sorry, Pete, I can't use you until you straighten up and walk the perfect line!" NO - he used Peter, just as he was--oh, He changed him too, when the Holy Spirit got hold of his life...but that "blunder" ability was probably always right below the surface too. In spite of it all--he loved his Lord--and his Lord loved him, the "not-so-perfect" saint that he was!
The next time you "thunder" or you "blunder"--and it may be before this day is over--don't hit yourself on the head with a crochet mallet. You are NOT perfect--you are in PROCESS, becoming like Jesus Christ. Don't be so hard on yourself! Someday you will reach perfection--when you reach heaven--but until then, acknowledge your humanity, work on it...or better yet, let the LORD work on it--and you, the "not-so-perfect" saint, will have a great day!!
Delight in a Word from the Well--a refreshing in the Water of His Word
"For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Psalm 103:14)."
Draw from the Well--a prayer for renewing strength for this day
"Lord, I'm glad You know my heart, because sometimes, my hands, my feet, my mouth, don't do or say the perfect thing. I find myself in hot water, I blow it, I fall and fail. But You, the perfect Son of God, are always there to dust me off, pick me up, and start me on the way again. I love You Lord...thank You for putting up with me and using me anyway; thank You for not leaving me where I am but changing this "not-so-perfect" saint, day by day, into Your likeness, In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Copyright 2001 by Peggie Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.
Not to be copied without permission.
TODAY'S FEATURED LINK:
Meet Joey and Jason--the Not-So-Perfect Brothers at Peggie's Place!
