The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"No Excuses"
"Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse" (Luke 14:16-18).
"To make excuse" has portrayed much of human history since Eden, when Eve blamed the devil and Adam blamed Eve for their sin. Never once in the chronicle of blame-shifting, however, has their been a valid reason for any act of failure to trust and obey God.
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).
There may be so-called "sins of ignorance" when we act unknowingly in a manner contrary to God's will. However, we are all members of a race of beings whose collective "all we like sheep have gone astray" results in our individual waywardness (Isaiah 53:6). Thus, no legitimate justification for any sin exists. Adam and his excuse-making exists in the hearts of all his progeny, and presently remains in the flesh of those born again into the redeemed spiritual race of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For the believer, God's grace ever abides for us and within us as the power to overcome temptation. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). If we sin, we do so inexcusably, regardless of the nature or measure of the devilish, worldly, or fleshly challenge. Moreover, to know our Lord's restorative mercy regarding our fellowship with Him, we must forthrightly and unequivocally confess, "I have sinned." No excuses, no mitigating circumstances, and no transference of blame to any tempting influence must accompany our acknowledgement of unbelief and disobedience. Indeed, through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, God forgives sin, praise His holy name. He does not forgive excuses. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (I John 1:9; 2:1).
Underlying this challenging truth exists the promise of grace for overcoming. If we honestly look back to acknowledge the lack of excuse for any sin, we also see the grace we neglected for overcoming. This leads to a proper regret, but supplies this joyful prospect: God's enabling to overcome temptation presently resides within our hearts through the Holy Spirit. And it always will. Sin does occur in the life of all believers during our present earthly journey (I John 1:8). However, it never has to happen. Again, "no temptation hath overtaken you" (emphasis added). If we sin, our greatest wrong may not be whatever the disobedience involves, but rather our neglect of infinitely abounding grace that would have enabled our obedience. Indeed, the Lord Jesus suffered and died not only to forgive sins, but also to indwell our hearts as the power to overcome temptation, a power "exceeding, abundantly above all we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).
In Christ, God has provided to believers His light, liberty, life, leading, and love for the overcoming of temptation. It does not always feel this way, or appear this way. However, it always is this way. If we sin, therefore, let us approach the throne of grace bearing no excuses, but rather the honest, repentant, and trusting acknowledgement that sees with godly sorrow the Lamb of God who suffered for our sins, and rejoices in God's great desire and perfect ability to forgive our sins and restore and empower our walk with Him. Yes, the God who "delighteth in mercy" beckons the fallen to Himself, where contrite hearts find mercy waiting….
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
(Hebrews 4:16)
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
(Psalm 32:5)
Weekly Memory Verses
"I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
(Psalm 32:5)
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