Don’t Stay Wrong

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “You made it! Now what?

Our Bible verse for today: “Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” Proverbs 9:8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Don’t stay wrong”

So, 2025 is over. You made it through it. 2026 is a whole new year filled with opportunities for growth and achievement. What will you do with it? If you aren’t intentional and focused, you will just wander through the days of the year without purpose and probably not achieving much that matters.

In this month of daily devotional messages, I’m encouraging all of us to consider ways in which we can change and be better; ways in which we can grow and improve. But often we’re blind to our own faults. Too often we can’t see about ourselves that which is obvious to others. In such cases are you open to being corrected?

It’s a good question. Are you spiritually mature enough to admit when you are wrong and to accept correction? Many people aren’t. It takes a good measure of humility. Spiritually immature people often let their pride get in the way and they refuse to admit they are wrong and they resent words of correction.

The fact is that nobody is infallible. We are all wrong sometimes. The question isn’t if you will be wrong about some things sometimes, the question is are you a big enough person to admit you were wrong and to be grateful that someone cared enough to talk to you about it?

In Proverbs 9:8 King Solomon observed that a small-minded and spiritually immature person will resent the implication that they are wrong and they will be angry at you for attempting to correct them. But a wise person will immediately recognize their error, admit it, and be grateful to you for caring and for having the courage to talk to them about it.

There is no shame in being wrong. But there is shame in staying wrong. And the longer you stay wrong the more damage your error is likely to cause. Arguments drag on when they could have been resolved; relationships remain broken when they could have been healed; jobs are lost, ministries are harmed, resentment and bitterness take root; and all because stubborn people don’t have the spiritual maturity and strength of character to admit they are wrong. Additionally, bad habits and destructive behaviors that need to be corrected are often not.

One of the greatest things that can happen to any of us is to grow in spiritual maturity to the point that we are able to admit when we are wrong and to gracefully accept correction. Perhaps one of your goals for 2026 should be to ask God to help you become more open to allowing others to speak truth into your life.

There is no shame in being wrong. But there is shame in staying wrong.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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