Mistakes?

My name is Martin Johnson and I’m a Christian. I’m also a sinner. I have been hurt by other Christians and I have hurt other Christians. Nothing hurts worse than hurting someone you care about, I know about it.

Last month I made a big mistake and hurt a friend I care about. Once I realized it, it tore me to pieces; it feels like the biggest mistake of my life. I was reminded how broken I am and how much we all want to be loved unconditionally. Yes, Christians make mistakes too. It’s not a mental problem, it is a sin problem.

If you’re not a Christian, don’t judge Christianity on the actions of Christians but those of Christ; He lived without sin and loved everyone unconditionally. God doesn’t make mistakes—we do. That is what this Valentines blog will be about; yes it’s time 4 that again. The Bible is clear we all make mistakes (Romans 3:23). Sometimes I feel like I have the art of making them on lock down.

MISTAKES?

Mistakes are defined as: “an error in action, opinion or judgment caused by poor reasoning or carelessness. " Most mistakes are accidents. In my case, I was selfish and curious about someone I care about. I never intended to hurt them.

Other mistakes are intentional with the sole purpose of hurting others. I’ve experienced this throughout my life and more recently when trusted friends betrayed my friendship.

They think because I have a brain injury I’m too slow to figure things out, nah bruh. The church has a history of making mistakes. The apostle Paul consistently reprimanded the church about how they acted (Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:8).

We won’t just make mistakes when we are young. Some of us make more mistakes the older we get, it’s part of being human (1 John 1:6-8). Even Pres. Trump will make mistakes. The Pharisees were too educated to understand this.

I was reminded of this when I saw the movie The Resurrection of Gavin Stone. In a particular scene a church reenacts the story of the woman caught in an act of adultery. The Pharisees proudly pointed out her mistake, but failed to see their own. who else has done that?

It’s easy to throw stones, but it is a mother to catch them. The character playing Jesus kneels down and writes the word grace in the sand as he looks the woman. On what should have been the worst day of her life, Jesus made it her best day ever!

He Who made no mistakes, chose to show grace to His beloved. I learned years ago that if I can’t learn to show grace while I’m single, I have no business getting married, because we are all make mistakes. It’s scary to take a chance after you’ve been hurt, but there is no room in love for fear (1 John 4:18). If you woke up this morning, hold on, it’s going to hurt. But, it is well with me.

God is teaching me as much is I need grace from those I’ve hurt, I have to give grace to those who hurt me. Believe me I don’t want to, there’s one I’d like to punch in the face. But, I am a Christian. I know what empowers unconditional love. I call it grace and it is crazy. Pastor Mike Foster says it best, “Tell me every terrible thing you did, and let me love you anyway!”

GRACE

Everyone loves the idea of grace, but few are willing to give it. It can heal the broken heart of a love addict. Mistakes don’t mean you’re not a Christian, only human. The Apostles were notorious for making mistakes. Peter denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62)?

But they experienced something called grace, especially Peter. They were given a second chance. Peter went on to say that love covers an abundance of sins (mistakes) (1 Peter 4:8). All believers are saved by grace and can rest in the love for God (Ephesians 2:8).Grace says, more of you and less of me.

Real love isn’t easy, because to love 4 real is to show grace and forgive even when it hurts. I saw this in my parents’ marriage with its hills and valleys. Before his death my father shared how much something my mother did hurt him and I watched her do it the week before he died.

He shared with me and a neighbor; he knew how my mother was before he married her nearly 40 years earlier. My parents didn’t have a perfect marriage, but they had love and grace in it until they died.

Every relationship and friendship has its problems, but not every relationship ends over them. With the grace and love in our lives, there really aren’t any mistakes.