My night was filled with Christmas trees, Christmas music and a long talk with a loved one. So my morning starts with prayer, and some Door County Harvest Blend Coffee. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our house.
I am convinced that we are a world of excuses and blame shifting. It seems that no one wants to accept responsibility for their actions anymore. It is always someone Else's fault or there is a reason for the behavior and then the behavior should be excused. Sorry folks I do not buy that. I believe from early on we are all taught right form wrong. Doing wrong is not allowed just because we had a bad day, or our parents did not tell us they love us. Shooting a classmate because we don't fit in or they said something mean does not allow us to take a life. A court decision that we do not agree with does not give us the right to burn down a building and steal a television. Speeding because we woke up late does not allow us to go 20 mph over the limit.
We might try to tell each other our lame excuses but God has clearly stated His expectations of behavior.
James 4:17
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!John 3:19-21
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Genesis 4:6-7
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
It can't be said much clearer than that. God expects us to know right from wrong and we are not to seek vengeance outside of the law. We cannot do wrong to be accepted by the world.
This was a tough message, especially at Christmas. But I think if we can avoid wrong and do right instead, we might just capture the essence of Christ in Christmas.
God bless,
Marty
No comments:
Post a Comment