Twelve Sponges
It was the first day on the job for a surgical nurse. To increase the pressure, she was assigned to the most experienced surgeon in the hospital. During her first surgical procedure, she noticed a problem as the doctor was finishing.
“You’ve removed eleven sponges, doctor,” she said to the surgeon. “We used twelve.”
“I'm certain that I've removed them all,” the surgeon replied. “We‘ll close the incision now.”
“I'm sorry,” the nurse persisted. “We used twelve sponges.”
“You must have miscounted. Anyway, I'll assume responsibility,” the surgeon retorted.
"But you can’t close without accounting for twelve sponges.” insisted the nurse.”
The surgeon then smiled, lifted a foot to reveal the twelfth sponge, and said, “You’ll work out just fine.”
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It can be difficult to stand up for what is right, especially when you are alone. How many times have you found yourself in the company of others - possibly Christians - using foul language, telling dirty jokes, taking God's name in vain or gossiping about others. It requires courage speak up and expose ourselves to criticism or ridicule.
John 12:42-43 speaks of believers that lacked the courage to stand up for their faith. “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”
Would we fare any better? The possibility of being disliked, teased and possibly ostracized is intimidating. Yet it comes down to this - which do we love more, God’s approval or man’s? Only one approval ultimately matters - God’s. When we stand up for Him, He will stand with us. Therefore, no matter what others may think or say, let’s be courageous Christians and pursue God’s approval. In doing so we will never stand alone.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid...for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
It was the first day on the job for a surgical nurse. To increase the pressure, she was assigned to the most experienced surgeon in the hospital. During her first surgical procedure, she noticed a problem as the doctor was finishing.
“You’ve removed eleven sponges, doctor,” she said to the surgeon. “We used twelve.”
“I'm certain that I've removed them all,” the surgeon replied. “We‘ll close the incision now.”
“I'm sorry,” the nurse persisted. “We used twelve sponges.”
“You must have miscounted. Anyway, I'll assume responsibility,” the surgeon retorted.
"But you can’t close without accounting for twelve sponges.” insisted the nurse.”
The surgeon then smiled, lifted a foot to reveal the twelfth sponge, and said, “You’ll work out just fine.”
*****************************************************************************************************************************************
It can be difficult to stand up for what is right, especially when you are alone. How many times have you found yourself in the company of others - possibly Christians - using foul language, telling dirty jokes, taking God's name in vain or gossiping about others. It requires courage speak up and expose ourselves to criticism or ridicule.
John 12:42-43 speaks of believers that lacked the courage to stand up for their faith. “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”
Would we fare any better? The possibility of being disliked, teased and possibly ostracized is intimidating. Yet it comes down to this - which do we love more, God’s approval or man’s? Only one approval ultimately matters - God’s. When we stand up for Him, He will stand with us. Therefore, no matter what others may think or say, let’s be courageous Christians and pursue God’s approval. In doing so we will never stand alone.
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid...for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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