Costly Little Mistakes
Costly Little Mistakes
He opens their ears to correction and insists they repent from iniquity. (Job 36:10)
On the first night of our vacation, I learned we had been double-billed at the hotel. What I thought had been a smooth process of making reservations online had resulted in a mistake on the part of the booking agency and a costly extra charge on my credit card. Though the hotel clerk assured me the situation would be easily rectified, I wanted it addressed quickly.
As I lay in bed listening to the ocean waves crash against the shore that night, I was thankful all had been set straight. The booking agency had willingly acknowledged the mistake and credited my card. My trust in their services had been restored.
I ended my day in conversation with my heavenly Father, and I realized afresh why I should acknowledge my mistakes quickly too. Not that God would stew over my unconfessed sin as I had fretted over the faulty charges. But if I want Him to trust me with more spiritual insight, new challenges, and opportunities for serving Him, I need quickly to acknowledge when I’ve blown it. I was glad I didn’t have to argue with the agency that had double-billed me, and I definitely don’t want my Father to have to “argue” with me over my sins and mistakes.
Psalm 103:14 says, “For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.” But He also does not take even our smallest sins lightly. Sins left unconfessed grow into bad habits, and before we know it, we are blinded to the seriousness of the offense and try to rationalize it.
Honor your relationship with your heavenly Father by acknowledging your mistakes quickly, calling them what He calls them, accepting His gracious forgiveness, and turning around to head in the right direction.