Question 1

What are some significant mistakes described in the Bible?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:11-13“Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”Adam and Eve disobeyed God when they ate the forbidden fruit—a terrible mistake. Then they both tried to shift blame to someone else rather than taking responsibility for their actions.Judges 16:17, 21, 28Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” . . . So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison. . . . Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”Samson’s big mistake was sharing the secret of his strength with Delilah. Samson’s life, though filled with foolish mistakes, was still mightily used by God.Exodus 32:1-5When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” So Aaron said, “Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!”Aaron made a huge mistake by succumbing to the pressure of the people and helping them build an idol to worship.Jonah 1:3But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.Jonah’s big mistake was going the opposite direction from what God had instructed. The worst mistake we can make is trying to run away from God.Exodus 2:12; 33:17After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand. . . . The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”Even Moses’ life was marred by this rash mistake, yet God forgave him and had a special relationship with him.Matthew 26:74-75Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.John 21:15-17After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”Jesus restored Peter to fellowship even after his most painful mistake.Acts 15:37-39Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.2 Timothy 4:11Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.John Mark made the mistake of deserting Paul and Barnabas on one of their missionary journeys, which caused a later rift between these leaders. But in the end, Mark was restored to Paul, as the apostle acknowledges in his letter to Timothy. Mark is perhaps best known for writing the Gospel of Mark.

Question 2

What are some of the biggest mistakes I can make?

Accepted Answer

Acts 14:11-15When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!” They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Now the temple of Zeus was located just outside the town. So the priest of the temple and the crowd brought bulls and wreaths of flowers to the town gates, and they prepared to offer sacrifices to the apostles. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they tore their clothing in dismay and ran out among the people, shouting, “Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.Worshiping anyone or anything other than God is a fateful mistake.2 Corinthians 5:16So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!1 Peter 2:8“He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.Ignoring, neglecting, or refusing to acknowledge Jesus as God is a terrible mistake with eternal consequences.Psalm 44:21God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.Psalm 69:5O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.Psalm 90:8You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all.Proverbs 15:3The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.Proverbs 20:27The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.Jeremiah 16:17“I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me.”Jeremiah 17:10“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”Jeremiah 23:23-24“Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.Acts 5:1-11There was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.Thinking we can hide our sin from God—or that he won’t notice it—is a mistake.Psalm 14:1Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!Romans 1:20Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.Denying God’s existence is a terrible (and foolish) mistake.Genesis 3:4-5“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”Proverbs 11:2Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.Pride is a grave mistake that leads to many other mistakes. In fact, the serpent used Adam and Eve’s pride to manipulate them into distrusting God’s instructions, which led to their sin.Genesis 3:8-13When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”Genesis 16:5Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”Proverbs 19:3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.Not taking responsibility for our actions is a big mistake. It causes more mistakes with increasingly harder consequences as time goes on.Proverbs 16:9We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.Jonah 1:1-3The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.Running from God’s plans is not only a mistake, it’s futile. Wherever we try to go, he is already there ahead of us. Running from God’s call will only make our journey more difficult.Numbers 13:25-29; 14:1-3After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.” . . . Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”Job 10:18-19; 38:1-2; 40:1-5; 42:1-3, 12“‘Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother’s womb? Why didn’t you let me die at birth? It would be as though I had never existed, going directly from the womb to the grave. . . .” Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? . . .” Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” . . . Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. . . .” So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning.It is easy to begin doubting God’s work in our lives when we focus on the negative circumstances rather than the positive potential of God at work. When we begin to doubt God’s work, we begin to doubt God. To assume God doesn’t care about us or want what is good for us is a mistake.James 3:2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.One of the most common mistakes for most of us involves saying something we later regret.

Question 3

What causes me to make mistakes?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 16:3So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.)Exodus 32:1When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”Joshua 8:14When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn’t realize there was an ambush behind the town.Our impatience often leads to poor life choices. When we hurry to act without checking our assumptions, it is easy to make a serious mistake.Proverbs 19:2-3Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.When we don’t know all the facts, we may overreact and make additional mistakes.1 Samuel 13:8-14Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?” Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.” “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.”Serious mistakes can be caused by the pressure of our fears.Genesis 13:10-13Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. . . . Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. . . . So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.Often mistakes are created by the selfish pursuit of our own agenda. When our choices are guided primarily by selfish ambition or a desire for physical fulfillment, we are more likely to make a mistake.Genesis 25:29-34One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” . . . “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” . . . So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.Feeling extremely tired and hungry, Esau traded his future for a bowl of stew. Lack of sleep, poor eating habits, or overwork to the point of exhaustion will make us more vulnerable to poor decisions.1 Kings 12:1-11The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.” . . . Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. “What is your advice?” he asked them. . . . The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!’”Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.Rejecting the advice of wise counselors can lead to mistakes.

Question 4

What can I learn from my mistakes?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 4:6-7“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”Proverbs 29:1Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.When we are confronted about a mistake, we should consider the source and the substance of the criticism, then listen and learn for the future.Genesis 3:8-13When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”How we respond to our mistakes is important. Both Adam and Eve responded to their mistakes by trying to shift the blame to someone else. When we make mistakes, we need to admit our responsibility and learn for the future.Judges 16:17-28Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. . . . So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. . . . Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again, O God.”God can still use us despite our mistakes. Samson’s life, although filled with foolish mistakes, was still mightily used by God.1 Samuel 13:8-14Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done? . . . now your kingdom must end.”Mistakes are often created by the impatient pursuit of our own agenda. Learning patience can help us avoid making mistakes in the future.James 3:2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.One of the most common mistakes is saying things we later regret. Such mistakes remind us to think before we speak.Jonah 1:1-3The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.One of the worst mistakes we can make is to run from God. This leads us down a long and painful detour away from the right path. Looking back on such mistakes reminds us that obeying and running to God is always better than going away from him.Matthew 26:69-75Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.Following Jesus means allowing him to forgive our mistakes. We may feel unworthy of God’s forgiveness, but that’s why it is called grace—God’s forgiveness is a gift we do not deserve, yet it is offered joyfully. Jesus restored Peter to fellowship even after his most painful mistake. In the same way, we can accept God’s forgiveness and respond with a more passionate love for him (Luke 7:42–43).

Question 5

How can I avoid making mistakes?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 16:1-7This message from the Lord was delivered to King Baasha by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani: “I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin. So now I will destroy you and your family, just as I destroyed the descendants of Jeroboam son of Nebat.” . . . Baasha had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done).2 Chronicles 30:7-8“Do not be like your ancestors and relatives who abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and became an object of derision, as you yourselves can see. Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”Psalm 78:1-4O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.Psalm 78:8Then they will not be like their ancestors—stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.Isaiah 42:23Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?1 Corinthians 10:1-11I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. . . . These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.It is wise to review our past because it helps us avoid repeating our mistakes. We can also learn by observing the mistakes of others and the consequences they suffered.Psalm 119:11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.God’s Word is full of wisdom. Knowing God’s Word gives guidance that helps us avoid making mistakes. The Bible is not an advice column of opinions, but the wisdom of Almighty God.Proverbs 11:14Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.Ecclesiastes 10:1As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.Godly counsel helps us avoid mistakes. When in doubt, ask a wise person who follows God for advice and help.Numbers 33:2At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places where they stopped along the way.Hebrews 11:8, 25-27It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. . . . [Moses] chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.Faith in God makes us quick to listen to his direction, which makes us much more likely to make good choices. Without God’s guidance, we will make far more mistakes.Proverbs 14:29People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.James 1:19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.James 3:2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.Mistakes are made when we speak or behave impulsively. Thinking before speaking and acting can prevent many mistakes.

Question 6

With all the mistakes I’ve made, do I have any hope?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 15:6Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.Genesis 16:1-4Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant.Genesis 20:2Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying, “She is my sister.” So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.Abram made many mistakes. So how could God call him “righteous”? Despite his bad choices, Abram believed and trusted in God. His faith, not perfection, made him right in God’s eyes. This same principle is true for us. Rather than measuring our goodness, God is looking for our faith and our willingness to follow him. When God finds faith in us, he declares us righteous.Judges 16:17-28Finally, Samson shared his secret with her. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” . . . So the Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They took him to Gaza, where he was bound with bronze chains and forced to grind grain in the prison. . . . Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”Samson’s life was filled with foolish mistakes, but he was still used mightily by God. If God refused to use his people when they made mistakes, no one would ever accomplish anything for him.2 Chronicles 18:31-32So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. “There is the king of Israel!” they shouted. But Jehoshaphat called out, and the Lord saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him. As soon as the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.God still helped Jehoshaphat even though he made the mistake of ignoring the warnings of the prophet Micaiah. God will help us even in the midst of our mistakes, if we ask him.Matthew 26:69-75Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.Philippians 3:13-14I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.Jesus restored Peter to fellowship and used him to build the early church, even after his most terrible mistake of outright denial. Following Jesus means allowing him to forgive our mistakes and help us work toward a better future.Exodus 2:11-12Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews. After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.Hebrews 11:27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.Even Moses’ life was marred by a troubling mistake, but the Bible records his life as a life lived faithfully before God.Jonah 1:3But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.Jonah 1:17; 2:10; 3:1-2Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. . . . Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. . . . Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”One of the worst mistakes anyone can make is running from God, which Jonah did; yet God pursued Jonah and gave him another chance.Luke 1:18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”God did not disqualify Zechariah just because he had doubts.Psalm 103:12He [the Lord] has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.When our mistakes are sinful or result in sin, we can confess them to God; he will forgive us completely.

Question 7

When I make a big mistake, how do I move on?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 4:6-7“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”2 Samuel 12:13Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.”Jeremiah 3:13“Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against him by worshiping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to listen to my voice. I, the Lord, have spoken!”1 John 1:10If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.To move on from our mistakes and sins, we should first admit them. This will open us to forgiveness and the restoration of our relationships.Proverbs 28:13People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.Philippians 3:12-14I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.To move on from our mistakes and sins, we should receive God’s forgiveness. He wants to give it as much as we need to receive it.2 Corinthians 2:7-8Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.James 5:16Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.To move on from our mistakes and sins, we should we should ask others for forgiveness when necessary and receive their forgiveness when it’s extended.Proverbs 24:15-16Don’t wait in ambush at the home of the godly, and don’t raid the house where the godly live. The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.Jeremiah 8:4-6“Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: When people fall down, don’t they get up again? When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!’”Ephesians 4:15-16Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.We shouldn’t live in fear of making mistakes. The only way to avoid all mistakes is to never try, which may be the greatest mistake of all. Mistakes will come, and when they do, we should focus forward! Once forgiven, we shouldn’t linger on our mistakes. The door of our eternal future is too small for the baggage of our past to fit through.Zechariah 1:4Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’1 Corinthians 10:1, 11I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. . . . These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.If we don’t learn from our past mistakes, we will be lulled into a sense of false security. Learning from our past mistakes prepares us to not repeat them in the future.

Question 8

How should I respond when I make a mistake?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:6-13The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”Blaming other people and circumstances for our mistakes is quite tempting (as we see with Adam and Eve), but the best response is simply to accept responsibility.John 21:15After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.Philippians 3:13No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.Dwelling on the past won’t change it. Instead, we can move forward by doing what God has called us to do today.

Question 9

Will God still love me if I’ve made a big mistake?

Accepted Answer

2 Samuel 12:13Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.”Psalm 32:3, 5When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. . . . Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.Psalm 51:1-2Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.Psalm 51:7Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.Psalm 103:12He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.God is eager to forgive our sinful mistakes. When we confess them, he will wash them away.Matthew 16:5Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread.Luke 9:33As Moses and Elijah were starting to leave, Peter, not even knowing what he was saying, blurted out, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”Not all mistakes are sin. Some are simply human slip-ups. These mistakes can be embarrassing, or even cause serious problems, but we should not allow them to flood us with guilt. God loves us, and he knows our limitations.