Hosanna Restoration Church

If we are honest, we all like the fact that everyone makes mistakes! After all, nobody is perfect. We even get disgusted at those people who think they are perfect. Of course, we do not know that they think they are perfect, we just assume they must. It is quite possible that we are wrong, but again, everyone makes mistakes.

The fact that we comfort ourselves by saying that everyone makes mistakes, reveals that we do know better, we just are not really interested in changing. We say that we wish we could change, but we do not wish it enough to do anything about it!

God did not say we all make mistakes so that we comfort ourselves in that fact; He went right into a revelation of how we could fix it. First and foremost, it is not about anyone else. It is about us. We make mistakes. No need to dwell on excuses or focus on the mistakes others make.

God’s major solution is to watch our mouths. If only we could control what we say we would in fact be perfect and could control ourselves in every other way!

How many times a day do we realize we said something we should not have said? Sometimes we say sorry. Sometimes we say nobody is perfect. Sometimes we are not even sorry we said it. Sometimes we add fuel to the fire with another wrong statement. Sometimes we have great success and only think it and stop before we say it.

James Chapter three is a challenge to everyone, and it is not a chapter that we like to dwell on. The fact is, that reading James chapter 3 reminds us that we have a lot of work to do. We all have a long way to go in the perfecting of our faith, our actions, and especially our words.

Desire has a great deal to do with our success. There is no doubt that we all desire the favor of God. We all have a spot in us that desires to please God. We should use those things to our advantage. I don’t care if everyone makes mistakes, I should eliminate that fact from my list of excuses. However, I should put it to use when someone else makes the mistake. I should remember it and declare it and extend grace to that person. Then if I have the opportunity, I can encourage that person without judgement and without saying something I should not say!

We should always remember that God is able to complete the good work He has begun in us. We have been made perfect in Christ Jesus. We should also remember that we are required to cooperate in the process. Cooperation means that we care about God’s success in our lives.

We do not want to make excuses. We want to make adjustments.  We want God to have His way so that He can supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory! Our greatest need is to have clean hands and pure hearts. These produce a clear conscience and that means peace that passes understanding. Lord, work your perfecting power in our lives, especially our tongues!