Recently, my husband and I celebrated our 34th Wedding Anniversary. We didn’t plan anything big this year, but for me, it was one of the best ever! We worshipped together and then spent the afternoon in downtown Savannah where we had an amazing lunch on the river. It was just such a beautiful day. As always, I struggle with what to eat because I know I need to be healthy. However, I felt like a had a ‘really’ good excuse to eat whatever I wanted – After all, it was our Anniversary! And, so I did. While everything was delicious, I overate and felt so miserable the rest of day. I think our lives are like this. Often, we look for excuses to not have to do the right thing or look for reasons to explain ourselves for not doing what we should do. In the end, our excuses make us feel miserable.

In 2 Peter 1:1-21, Peter reminds his reader that he was on the mountain with Jesus when He was transfigured and God spoke, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” He further explains that what he is telling his reader is not his interpretation of Scripture, but one who was moved by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word of God (2 Peter 1:17-21). So, if we are to believe this, then we must listen to Peter’s words about how we are to live our lives:

“Support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. (2 Peter 1:5-8).”

These words do not leave us much room for excuses! To live this life Peter is saying that we are to live, means that we are always to be on our toes – to behave above reproach! As Christians, we are ‘set apart’ from the rest of the world. In fact, St. Peter states that we are chosen and are the elect! Through Jesus’ promises “we may escape from the corruption that is in the world!” (v.4). In the end, our excuses are not going to justify us from the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray…Gracious God, take our excuses away from us so that we may serve you effectively and with love for others. Help us to hear the words from those whom you have sent the Holy Spirit to speak your truths. We love you so much. Amen.