Cleared
Theme of the Week: Graded on the Curve?
Friday, April 10, 2009
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: God … is the one who has given us right standing with himself (Romans 8:34). Bonus Reading: Hebrews 10:11-18
After growing up in church, as a young adult, Daryl went his own way. He dropped one failed marriage and way too many beer bottles on that path before meeting his second wife. Further tragedy struck when his mother died.
Devastated, Daryl started to think about things he'd ignored for decades. He knew his mom died in peace, and he wasn't even close to that. He reevaluated his life and went back to church; his faith blossomed.
The foundation of those early years helped Daryl to grow quickly. His common sense and practical bent, now sensitized by the Spirit, made him a valuable advisor to his pastor. After ten years, Pastor Bob wanted to make it official and asked if Daryl would pray about serving as an elder in the church.
Daryl struggled with the verse that says an elder must be the husband of but one wife, and the two discussed it at length. "Bob, I can't get beyond that. I know God forgave me; I have no doubt about that. But I've had two wives. I just don't think I'm qualified."
Daryl, now faithful to his wife, had succumbed to a common misunderstanding. He assumed that in spite of God's forgiveness, the effects of previous sin left a taint too damaging to overcome.
—Tim Riter in Twelve Lies You Hear in Church
My Response: I'll thank God for his unconditional forgiveness.
Thought to Apply: God has no permanent problem children.—Nels F.S. Ferré (theologian)
Adapted from Twelve Lies You Hear in Church (Next Gen, 2004) by permission.
Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Intensify my grasp of your holiness this week so that I can begin to comprehend the cost of sacrificing your Son.
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