Acknowledge the Errors in our Life – a Lesson in Humility
Posting one’s thoughts on Facebook and the internet is both a privilege and an obligation. My greatest reservation is that I will make an incorrect statement or mistakes. When I discover errors it causes apprehension and I often think I should cease to release my personal thoughts and comments. I believe there are many who publish nothing for fear of failure. I admit I am human and make mistakes. I am not perfect; nor will I ever be perfect this side of eternity.
Owning our mistakes is necessary. I admit I made what I consider a serious oversight in my post about Mary Magdalene in comments about the Prince of Peace. We can be serious in our thinking and be completely wrong.
I stated we do not know why Mary Magdalene was visiting the tomb of Jesus in the early dawn hours. The Gospel of John does not give us all the details. I was reading in John and reflecting only on his record of events. My comment was incorrect. My mind was captivated with the thoughts about the peace Jesus purchased for us at Calvary.
Mark gives us the reason Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Salome were visiting the site of the tomb. They were on a mission carrying spices to anoint the body of Jesus. This reveals the love those who followed Jesus had for him. Mark’s account offers proof more than one person was the first to visit the tomb and discover the stone had been rolled away. They were three women, not men. Here is what Mark writes in Mark 16:1-5:
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away – for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
As our pastor read from Mark’s writing this morning, I realized I made an assumption about Mary Magdalene and the events surrounding her visit to the tomb early on the first day of the week.
Too often I make assumptions about God and his word. We all draw different conclusions about what we read in the Bible. I pray as I read the Bible that I will learn truth and allow it to be planted in my life. The fact is that we can read and study the Bible daily and still draw the wrong conclusion or make assumptions which are not true unless we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. My feeble mind often fails to grasp what God has recorded through the writers throughout history in the Bible. I love the Bible. I study the Bible, reading it carefully – yet I realize I often fail to understand and grasp the facts and truth.
My heart’s desire is to encourage others to seek to research the Bible for eternal truth. The Bible stands alone in truth. If I remain silent and fear to speak or write because I might make a mistake, I am failing to share the Gospel. The Bible records the good, the bad and the ugly of humanity. Yet I cannot make an excuse. To hide the fact that I make mistakes is sin. Sin, if left unconfessed, is an insult to God.
When I discover I have failed, I must acknowledge my errors. Thus, I am writing this in humility to share how valuable it is that we research and discover what the Bible really states.
The lessons I learned today is three-fold:
1) I make mistakes and need correction. Spiritual correctness is paramount and we need the Bible for daily living. The depth of the Bible is beyond our natural mind to grasp all the facts; however, we should seek to learn as much as possible from it
2) Research the Bible to discover and learn the truth contained therein and endeavor to live an obedient life to Christ and share Jesus with others. So not stop because of mistakes we have made or might make.
3) The Bible is amazing. God used 40 authors to write the Bible (some scholars believe it more) and God has hidden truth throughout the entire Bible. One author recorded what was revealed to him through the Holy Spirit and God used a different author to clarify and give more facts about historical events and spiritual insight.
I am so thankful God used many authors to write the Bible. Only God could direct such a large number of authors to write uncompromising truth for us to learn and understand the historical and eternal truth of one person: Jesus, the Messiah, our risen Savior, the only Son of God, lord of Lords and king of Kings.
I pray you will forgive me and pray for me as I endeavor to faithfully share Jesus with others.
