Excuses. Excuses. Excuses.
Rationalization. Rationalization. Rationalization.
Denial. Denial. Denial.
Excuses. Rationalization. Denial. Three common reactions to sin. My common reactions to my sin. I’m so skilled at it, I even amaze myself.
But reality hits and I conclude (eventually) that what I excuse there is no excuse for. What I rationalize there is no rationale for. What I deny there is no denial for. Sin is sin. Sin is real. There is not magic Disney wand I can wave that will make sin go away. There is no car I can travel through time in that will make my sin any less real. All sin has consequences. All sin has a bite.
But I also know that because my sin is real so is the cross. So is grace. So is Jesus, the Substitute. So is my need for repentance.
“Father, Your Spirit convicts me of my sin; my flesh says, ‘No.’ The cross says, “Here is where your sin dies. here is where your sin was atoned for.” My flesh wants to say no, but my need for grace is greater. Let your Spirit wash over me and cleanse me. Let me not excuse, rationalize or deny my sin OR my need for you. Instead, let my real sin meet the real grace seen at the real cross and seek your forgiveness. Thank you, Father, for your grace and forgiveness…as real as it ever gets.”
Thank you, Bill, for reminding us that the real cross and real grace washes away our sins when we confess them.
Blessings!
A real thank you to you, Martha, for the comment. I am so thankful for the real cross and real grace.
No punches held on this one this morning. Sin is sin. Destructive, manipulative, deceiving… So ugly, it even tries to conceal itself through minimizing, rationalizing, and excusing. I have done it… Iam sure I will continue to do it. The fact is, there is no denying that I cannot fix it. I have no power or authority in my self to change the outcome of sin’s consequence. – Death! Only the life giving creator of the universe through His perfect son can bring about any expectation of fixing this brokenness. And He did, on a cross. He not only defeated the power of sin up to that point, but defeated it for all eternity. I am no longer bound by it… Now I need to be reminded to leave it. I am not shackled, I can run from the prison, it cannot hold me.
I agree Ryan. No punches held back. that is one of the things I like about NMM and Tripp. So glad I am no longer bound by death. Freedom awaits!