If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. One John one eight nine a man went to church one Sunday with bandages on both of his ears. What on earth happened to you? Asked a friend. Terrible thing, the man replied. I was ironing my shirt when the phone rang. I picked up the iron instead of the phone and burned my ear. Thats awful, said his sympathetic friend. But what happened to your other ear? Well, said the man. A couple of minutes later the phone rang again. We are not always so bright, you and I. Sometimes we just dont learn from our mistakes. God has every right to punish us for messing up in life, especially when we keep repeating the same old sins over and over. He knows that we can be very thick headed and stubborn, but he loves us anyway and he is willing to give us a second chance if we ask him. We better not take God's love for granted, though by carelessly repeating mistakes and sins again and again. We know the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. And we can't go around thinking that we can do whatever we want, assuming that God will let it slide because he is our friend. Some people want to see how far they can go and get away with it. Some want to see how close they can get to the edge without falling off. But we should love God so much that we make every effort to stay as close to him as we can and as far away from the edge as possible. We all make mistakes, we goof up. We are all sinners. We get things wrong, and we might do it a lot. But let's learn from our mistakes and make every effort to amend our ways in gratitude for God's love and forgiving heart.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to dailythoughtspodcastmail.com dot. Have a great day and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.