No Regrets

By David A. Sargent       Keith Smith was my college roommate for my junior and senior years at Faulkner University.  Even though we don’t see each other very often, I still consider him a very close friend and brother in Christ.  He was one of the two “best men” in my wedding.     Keith was and is one of the greatest guys you’d ever want to meet.  He is very kind, fairly quiet, a prince of a guy.  He is passionate about a couple of things: living for Christ and Foley High School football.     I remember going home to Foley, AL with Keith one weekend during football season.  He spoke to his old football team before the game.  Many of the football players came out of the fieldhouse with tears in their eyes.      “What did you say to them, Keith?”     He didn’t expound on his speech, but he said, “Basically, I told them to play with no regrets.”     That’s a great philosophy of life: Live with No Regrets.     You will never regret… ·       Seeking to mend broken relationships.  Jesus taught us to make reconciliation with others an urgent priority (see Matthew 5:23-24).  The Apostle Paul also instructed: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). ·       Being kind.  You will likely regret being mean and ugly to someone.  But you won’t regret being kind.  “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).  “But what if the kindness is spurned, not appreciated, not returned?  What if my kindness is viewed negatively?”  Then you will always know that you tried to do the right thing, in the right way.  You won’t regret it. ·       Doing your best.  Whether it is on the field of competition, in the classroom, at work, or even at home, you will never regret putting forth your best effort.  Minimal or half-hearted efforts will be regretted.  A great guiding principle is “whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).  Even if you “come up short,” you will always have the satisfaction of knowing that you gave it your best. ·       Accepting God’s forgiveness.  The burden of guilt for past sins is a heavy burden (cf. Psalm 32:1-5).  The Good News – the Gospel – is that Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we might have forgiveness and receive the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:7).  God has promised to forgive those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts16:30-31), turn from their sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:26-27).  Accept God’s forgiveness on His terms.  You won’t regret it. ·       Living for Jesus.  It’s not always going to be easy.  Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.”  But then He added: “but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  It won’t always be easy to follow Jesus, but it will be worth it.  On one occasion, Peter said to Jesus, “See, we have left all and followed You.”  Jesus replied, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:28-30).  Jesus was saying, “It’s worth it!”     Live with no regrets.  Accept God’s forgiveness on His terms.  Live for Jesus by following His Word.     Won't you?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water." To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org