Have you ever been put in your place by someone who was wiser than you?  Did they do it a way that was belittling, demeaning, or hurtful to you?  If so, it was likely an event that you remembered for some time with unkind or revengeful thoughts toward the person.  Perhaps you were put in your place by a person in a gracious and loving way such that the person did not belittle or embarrass you, but instead continued to hold you in high regard and use the occasion for instruction or building you up in new ways that you had not experienced before.  Those are the kinds of people that you gravitate to, and that you continue to hold in high esteem.

 If you have not often experienced constructive correction or a rebuke in love, there is one place where you can always find it, and this place will not belittle you in front of others.  It will be personal, known only to you.

This place is the Word of God, more commonly known as the Bible.  The writer of the book of Hebrews said these words:

 “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

This scripture reveals to us the penetrating power of God’s word.  It convicts me of just how far I can stray from God’s standard, especially in my thoughts and attitudes.  No matter how I may appear on the outside, my soul and spirit, my thoughts and my attitudes are fully known to God.

 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1John 1:8-10)

I freely admit to being far from sinless.  Yet, I sometimes forget just how revealing my thoughts and attitudes are to God.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Simply put, Christ died for the remission of all our sins, those seen, and those unseen.  We all need forgiveness, and we can all receive forgiveness at the foot of the cross through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know about you, but when I realize that God knows even my sinful (but unspoken) thoughts and attitudes, I feel like I have been put in my place. But not in a hurtful way, but in a kind and gracious way by a loving and forgiving father.

See you at the ramp.