May 16 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We’re not very good at admitting mistakes, are we? How quickly do we confess our sins and wrongdoings? If someone confronts us and brings to the surface a hidden fault, we don’t like to acknowledge our guilt. We will lie or twist the truth in an attempt to put ourselves in a better light. When something goes wrong we like to blame everyone and everything else but ourselves. Instead of acknowledging, “I am to blame and I have sinned against the Lord,” we try to shift the attention away from ourselves.

The practice of “passing the buck” began as soon as sin entered the world. Adam does not take responsibility for his transgression but blames the woman God gave him. The woman is quick to say, “The devil made me do it.” We do not like to take responsibility for our own failures, mistakes, sin and iniquity.

The Lord challenges the “pass the buck” syndrome in Ezekiel 18. Ezekiel writes, “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the LORD God, you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel....The soul who sins shall die.” (18:1-4) The Israelites claim, “Our parents have sinned and we are the victims.” That argument is not valid. We may not blame our parents or others for our own sinful behaviour.

We have our ways of passing off sin as if it isn’t all that bad. We will say things such as, “Oh, nobody is perfect! To err is human! Everyone is entitled to make at least one mistake.” We conveniently hide behind our sinful nature, permitting it to reign. But have we been created to sin, to err and to make mistakes? The Lord did not make us for sin but for His honour. Excusing sin is a hindrance to spiritual growth. Taking responsibility for our own sin makes us humble and turns our attention to Christ. When we acknowledge our sins and guilt, the way is open to receive freedom in the blood of Christ. Admitting sin is not defeat but allows us to enjoy the victory of forgiveness.