I am pretty sure that I have given every excuse for or defense of sin possible.  “It is my right”, “you just don’t understand”, “God understands me” (which is true…), “the devil made me do it”, “I can’t help myself”, “I was born that way”, “I’m just too weak” (which is also true…) –there are so many more reasons or excuses we give to hold on to our pet “weaknesses” (because sin is such an ugly word!).

What if we changed our perspective of sin and see that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more (Romans 5:20)?  Perhaps our weaknesses are grace spots where, in our weaknesses we can see the strength and redemption of our Savior at work—“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).  We are so backward thinking when we want to hide our weaknesses and vulnerabilities!  How can we glorify Christ when we are trying to appear strong and “together”?  Could we possibly be missing miracles that God wants to perform for blessing us, freeing us, and making us vessels of honor for His kingdom?

We are all sinners, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).

The perspective that “I can’t help it, I was born that way” doesn’t really cut it from the reality that we were all born that way, with a sinful nature.  When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, sin became an integral part of our DNA—only one was born without sin because His Father is in heaven, not from the earth; He is not only qualified to be our Redeemer, He chose to take the punishment for our sins.

…and He promises to cleanse us from unrighteousness:  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  So if we hold on to attitudes, activities, life-styles, habits—anything that falls short of the glory of God—we are cheating ourselves by not allowing Him to cleanse our unrighteousness.

Let me share with you a big light bulb God turned on in my heart just recently.  I have a habit of waking up in the morning making a soul-check to see how I feel about the previous day, evaluating my activities (or in-activities such as time spent in front of the TV or on the computer) and however good or bad I determine them to be will set the tone for my day—did I do ok or should I try harder to do better?

Whoa!  Who is the savior here?  I recognize my weaknesses, but I definitely do not like to admit them, even to God—I just try to do better next time. …and sad to think that some days I am deluded into thinking I acheived some sort of righteousness!

So this is what He has been speaking to my heart—“There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, and you are in Christ Jesus”, “I knit you together in your mother’s womb, I have always known you, I have always loved you—and nothing can separate you from my love!  My mercies are new every morning, so wake up in my love and my mercy!  Yesterday is just that, yesterday’s news—this is the day I have made, rejoice and be glad in it; old things have passed away, everything has become new!  It is time to take the focus off of yourself and put them on my Son your Savior, because that is what I have done—I do not look at your righteousness, for you have none, I see the righteousness of Jesus because that is His gift to you.