Ecclesiastes 12:10

      I n Matthew 16:16, Peter makes one of the greatest statements one can ever make. Jesus's response to praise him. “ Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ” Jesus gives him the name Peter which means Rock. He places on him the keys to the kingdom and announces the authority that his good confession bestows.   All and all a pretty high point for him.     Yet just a few moments later in verse 22, He makes one of the dumbest statement he’d ever make. Jesus' response is to rebuke him. " Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's. " Jesus then lectures him and the other disciples on what it takes to be his follower.     All and all, not a very good follow up for him.   It is sometimes like that for us in our spiritual walk. The highs and lows are a lot closer together than they seem l...

  You messed up. You done wrong. You took the left-hand path. You flubbed, forsook, and failed.   It happens to all of us.   Hopefully, you saw things for yourself but more likely somebody had to open your eyes to it. They called you to task. They slapped your hand. Told you no. You got chewed you out, criticized and critiqued   How did you take it? A wise son accepts his father's discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke . Proverbs 13:1    I’m beginning to realize that a true mark of spiritual maturity isn’t perfection but the ability to listen to correction. Oh for sure there will be some that will criticize baselessly but a wise man can see that and dismiss it. A fool however does that to everything that is told to them. Even when their error is obvious, they will attack the nature of the person correcting them and the way they did it and when they said it. They never accept the fault only redirect it to others.   However, ...