This is not a mistake!
I heard a story about a man who opened a new business. His best friend thought it would be nice to send him a floral arrangement on the first day of business. It was the friend’s way of wishing success to the business. The friend stopped by after a few days to see how things were going. To his surprise the flowers that he had sent were on display with a card that read, “Rest in Peace.” The man called the florist to complain. The florist said, he was sorry, but hey, it could have been worse. “Somewhere in this city is an arrangement in a cemetery that reads, “Congratulations on your new location!”
We all make mistakes. It is a reminder of our humanity. Most of our mistakes fit into one of these categories:
1. Panic related – caused by fear, hurry, or worry
2. Good –intentions but with wrong timing or wrong methods
3. Negligence – caused by laziness, lack of discipline, or inconsistency
4. Unrestrained- curiosity – “Pandora’s Box”
5. Blind Spots – habits, or influences
In today’s scripture verse, the Apostle Paul is reminding the Ephesians, that those outside of the body of Christ do not simply make mistakes in their thinking, but that they are NOT capable of right thinking. Their choices are the direct result of minds that have not been opened to spiritual truth and are separated from Truth because of their ignorance. This Greek word that Paul uses is the word that means agnostic, or not knowing. Because those who are not “in Christ” lack this divinely inspired awakening, they do not have understanding and all their actions follow out of that ignorance. In effect, they cannot make a correct spiritual choice because every choice they make is outside the “life of God.”
The Apostle Paul is instructing the Ephesians not to live as though they still are agnostic, but to live lives that reveal the understanding and knowledge of all spiritual truth as it has been given to them in Christ!
Christian friend, are you simply making a mistake with your thinking? Or are you choosing to ignore the truth that God has given you? When you choose to ignore God’s truth that is not a mistake; it is disobedience.
Father,
Help me today to make right spiritual choices; not to ignore the truth that you are revealing to me, but to choose to trust and obey. Give me strength to do, to say, and to live this day for your glory.
Amen
“Congratulations on your new location!” I laughed so hard I nearly snorted my coffee! Thank you for putting a proper perspective on mistakes. Lord, give me strength to do, to say, and to live this day for your glory. n Jesus name I pray, amen!
Well done faithful servant.