Untangled Part 4

I was in 2nd drade and we were coming in from recess. All the students lined up and the teacher was fed up demanding silence (as we entered the building). She yelled, “I don’t want to hear a PEEP from you as we go inside.” And something came over me and I let out a tiny little ‘PEEP’.

WHO SAID THAT?

I tried to cough!

BUSTED! And got a color in my pocket!!!!!

My excuse was about as effective as a $3 bill.

We’ve been talking about King Saul and we’re really getting into his downfall as we’ve seen him struggle with living for the applause, feeding the next dose of pleasure, and growing apathetic towards God as he continues to elevate himself.

He has screwed up and as Samuel, the prophet calls him out, he buries himself under a heap of denial, a little lie, rationalization, comparison, insistence, and blame.

We find Saul smack in the middle of a Justification Juxtaposition. He wants to make things right but only to spare him the consequences.

1 Sam 15:

V13 - When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!”

V15 - “It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

V20-21 - “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.”

Saul justifies his actions to Samuel (and God) instead of seeking justification from God and repenting from sin

Saul makes excuses. Contrast that with restitutions. PSALM 51 (read David’s attitude after he was confronted about his royal screwup and moral failure)

Here’s a story from Jesus that gives us a really good idea what God is looking for in the condition of our heart. It’s not perfection, it’s confession. It’s not religion, it’s restitution.

Luke 18:9-14 9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

People justify their actions by making excuses, rationalizing sin, or comparing themselves to others (“at least I’m not as bad as…”). They do this to avoid conviction and resist surrendering to God’s transforming work. This keeps them from fully experiencing the sanctifying grace of Christ. This self-justification keeps them entangled in sin rather than leading them to justification in Christ, finding true freedom.

Our excuses are like Big Red gum. Strong to start but last about 10 seconds.

UNTANGLING

Our untangling here starts with recognizing the difference between self-justification (covering up sin) and God’s justification (declaring us righteous through Christ). It continues with humbly surrendering to God’s grace which then leads to sanctification—a life set apart and transformed.

Romans 3:23-24

Galatians 2:16

Romans 5:1

Questions:

When have you made an excuse?

What excuses are you making right now about your decisions, actions, habits, words, or attitudes?

What restitution needs to be made today?

#Untangled

#RestoringWholenessOfLife 

Brett