And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;” – Hebrews 12:5

One of the best books I’ve read was Jim Bakker’s “I Was Wrong.”  It chronicles the whole Praise the Lord debacle where he raked in tons of money selling time shares for Heritage Ranch and all that happened with Jessica Hahn.  If you know what I’m talking about, you will love the book.  If you have no clue, then you might want to skip it.  Either way, Jim tells the truth about everything and admits at the end of most of the chapters, “I was wrong.”  But the coolest part is at the very end (spoiler alert) when he writes, “I thought God was done with me because of all that I had done . . . I was wrong.”  I ended up reading the book twice.

Anyway, I tell you this because I was listening to a church service the other day that I could not believe was a church service.  As I listened, the preacher justified the actions of the church by saying, “It’s just all you religious people who have a problem with this.”  Immediately, I was so convicted in my heart.  I have been calling people “religious” who have been critical of me and the way that I live my life for the Lord.  I told the Lord that I was sorry, and I was not about to be about all that anymore.  I thanked Him for how He used “those people” in my life to make me more like Himself.  Just like Jim Bakker, I had to admit . . . I was wrong.

Later, I watched another church service.  I was being crazy critical of the songs and being some version of a grumpy old man saying in my heart, “Back in my day, they could write worship songs with a pure heart.”  Well, at the end of the service, they played one of the songs that meant a lot to me back in my day.  It was like the Lord saying, “You like this better?”

Immediately, I saw my heart for how corrupt it was.  You see, my health hasn’t been the best lately and my time with the Lord has suffered.  When that time suffers, it takes almost no time for your heart, mind, and spirit to start rotting . . . at least that is the case with me.  I saw in my heart how hungry people do not complain about the food when it is offered to them, they simply just enjoy it with a thankful heart.  I asked God to make me hungry once more, because once again . . . I was wrong.

Lord, it is crazy how fast I deteriorate apart from You.  I’m so sorry that I can’t take a little bit of criticism.  I’m so sorry that I still want to fire back.  I’m sorry that I turn around and do the very things I hate being done to me.  I don’t want to be like that anymore.  I just want to please You and know You.  Wash me and cleanse me as only You can.  I’m so thankful that there is always mercy, grace, and forgiveness on Your table.  I devour them freely this morning.  Help me extend the same offering to others.  Amen!