I used to remind people when I was a pastor that I’m human, which means I am going to do something stupid, react a wrong way, hurt rather than help. I’m not perfect – I’m not God. I always added that we must hang our hopes on the Savior, not the pastor.
Sounds good, doesn’t it. Until I really do something stupid, react a wrong way, hurt rather than help. When that does happen, life becomes very difficult – both for those my actions affected and for me.
Part of the problem is that while I know I’m not perfect (just as I reminded people from the pulpit), it hurts when I realize just how horribly imperfect I truly am. I remember then that I also must hang my hopes on my Savior, not on myself.
It is then that I find myself crying out for mercy like that tax-collector in the temple. “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” [Luke 18:13 NIV]
Jesus said the man who cried like that, rather than the one who exalted himself, went away justified. I know when I do something stupid that I am forgiven by God. Unfortunately, I must cling to that promise too often.