No excuses

When I was young I had a strange idea about God.  I had read some of the Bible and every time I read a bit that should have been conclusive evidence that what I was doing was wrong, I would find some excuse.  It was really the same excuse, regardless of the sin.  I figured that, since God made me and knew my specific circumstances, that He didn’t actually require that of me. Every time conviction began to seep in my “He knows all about me” guard would go up.  I used my circumstances and my personality to allow all kinds of sins that are plainly spelled out in the Bible as SIN.

Somewhere along the line I had believed Satan’s lie that not only had God made me the way I was (which He did–HE designed me and knows me completely) but that He, the HOLY ONE, excused my sin on that very basis–because I obviously was doing the right thing in my circumstances and for who I was, even though they were against His word.  I didn’t understand that HE was trying to make me more than what I was without Him.  What a revelation it was when I read Jeff Bridges’ book “The Pursuit of Holiness” and found out that He wanted me to be like Him, instead of wanting me to be who I thought I was.

Now I realize that He wants me to be completely and totally who He designed me to be, not who I am when I wallow in my circumstances.   He does not intend that I be tossed too and fro with the waves of life.  He does not intend that I fall into every temptation that I see.  He does not intend my excuses and whinings.  He wants me to be my best, to persevere in the face of trial, to be strong in the face of fear, to have hope in all things, and to love no matter what.  He intends me to, like Him, use all my circumstances for good instead of wallowing in the sin of self pity.  He wants me to find  Him even in the roughest situations, and to use those situations to grow closer to Him–even as a true tower of Babel, not to be a God myself but to get closer to Him.  He longs for me to search for Him moment to moment in everything, to refer to Him at every decision, to think on Him constantly and to pray without ceasing.  It is only in losing what I call my self that I gain Him and find my true self.  It is only in giving up my every excuse and every whine against Him (for every whine is in fact against Him for He gives us all things), it is only then that I truly am myself, the one He intended me to be.

It means that sometimes someone else gets what I think I should have.  It means that sometimes things get painful, very painful, but I am still expected to do what is right.  It means that others will say and do things to hurt me and I still need to love them in Him.  It means dying to myself every moment and living in Him.  It means that I, like Paul, must determine to be content in all things, regardless of the circumstances and that I must find my self in Him.

  4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Phillipians 4:4-13

Lord, help us to remember that You are Holy and that You call us to be Holy  and that we have no excuse to be anthing us because You are hid in each of us.  Lord, glorify Your name in each of us today, in everything we do, regardless of our circumstances, help us to stand strong in you and make no excuses.

Have you been using excuses?

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