Accusing or excusing?

Genesis 30; Esther 6; Mark 1; Romans 1

Today’s readings make interesting connections. In Genesis, Jacob came up with a scheme. For his wages, he asked his father-in-law for the odd colored sheep. Laban removed them all from his flocks and okayed the plan thinking Jacob would not find any of those in his herd. However . . .

Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob would lay the sticks in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the sticks, but for the feebler of the flock he would not lay them there. So the feebler would be Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s. Thus the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys. (Genesis 30:41–43)

Obviously looking at odd-colored sticks would not produce odd-colored lambs, but God’s had was in this result. He promised to bless Jacob and even though Laban tried to foil the plan and Jacob was a schemer and tried to gain by his own ingenuity and superstitions, God was in charge.

The same power of God shows up in Esther’s story. Haman had a plan too but God overrules the schemes of humans. He moves events and circumstances for His good pleasure. Haman’s pagan advisers and his pagan wife unknowingly affirmed that neither Haman nor any other human can possibly stand against God’s chosen people, the Jewish nation. Even though God’s people often disobeyed Him, even though they were often not spiritually or even physically where God wanted them to be, deliverance would come. God would so work in history that He would be vindicated and His people delivered.

God uses the schemes of these and other rebels for His purposes. Yet in all our disobedience and resistance to God we are accountable for our actions. This comes out in the first chapter of Romans.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:18–22)

Sin has consequences. No matter how clever we think we are, God rules. In this description, God lets those who dishonor Him go their own way and suffer the consequences. Without going into the details, this verse describes one of the results of refusing to honor God:

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature. (Romans 1:26)

Lately I’ve been concerned, even annoyed at the way some people talk about and consider these “dishonorable passions” between both genders to be the worst sin ever. I agree that this behavior is sin, but everyone sins. It seems self-righteous to consider the sin of others (sin that I don’t commit) gives me the right to look down my nose at them.

This morning, I noticed that this is not the only consequence for those whom God has given up because of their rejection of Him . . .

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:28–32)

Not all of this is about sexual sin. Some of it is other behavior that many would consider disgusting and terribly wrong, like murder, deceit, maliciousness, hating God, inventing evil and heartlessness, yet a lot of people who would condemn these things are engaged in the other sin on this list, such as strife, gossip, slander, insolence, pride, disobedient to parents, faithlessness and ruthlessness. The current acceptance of the sin spoken of in verses 26-28 is no different than the current acceptance of the rest of the list. It shows up in church spats, gossip, haughtiness and even being ruthless in business.

Yes, God can use my foolish and sinful behavior but He isn’t pleased with my disobedience or any thoughts of it being okay. May He convict us deeply to be responsible and accountable to Him, without scheming against others and without judging that their sin is worse than mine.

Tripped up by pride

I was about seventeen, dressed up for a special occasion, and trotting around the house in a pair of fancy high-heeled shoes thinking I was the best thing that ever happened. Suddenly I tripped and nearly fell. I turned to see what had nearly threw me to the floor — it was a small piece of straw.

I was not a Christian at that time, but I heard someone say into my mind, “Remember who you are. You are a farm girl.” There is nothing demeaning about being a farmer’s daughter, but at the time this was a sharp rebuke for my superior attitude. God reminds me again this morning of that piece of straw and how He used it to put me in my place.

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” (Isaiah 51:1)

The other reading is from Ezekiel 16, colorful words in an analogy using an abandoned baby to show how God took Israel and cared for her, even as she became an adulterous woman who forgot the covenant He had made for her righteousness. The devotional writer uses words from these two prophets to remind Christians that we too have nothing to boast about. We were and are sinners saved by grace — and not to forget it.

God freely forgives my sins and does not throw them in my face, yet at the same time I can rejoice in His grace. I have no foundation in myself that I can boast about or take a superior attitude. It is by the grace of God that I am who I am.

This is practical every day, but specifically speaks to me this morning. I’m helping my sister who will be moving in a few months from a house where she raised her family and has lived most of her life. She keeps things. It is a big job. She is thankful I’m here. Her family is praising me. I need to remember who I am and why I am willing to do this and why I am able to help . . .

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Corinthians 4:1–7)

Jesus did it. Jesus gave me a different heart so that I have other options besides arrogance and attitudes that kept me from wanting to be helpful to others. Now I can choose to serve, all because of Jesus.

At the same time, it is good to always remember who I was, where I was, and what I was when God saved me by his grace. I was a fallen sinner and a rebel against God, lost and without hope in this world, dead in trespasses and sins, even though alive to the world, the flesh, Satan and sin.

Living the Christian life means remembering I also have a Redeemer who delivered me from that old life and gave me Himself so that I now can say YES to Him and NO to sin and selfishness.

^^^^^^^

Jesus, what a blessing You are! You did not leave me in my sinful state. Even though it remains to lure me, You also gave me Yourself, taking me into Your family and changing my life. Even on those days that I prefer to not think about what I used to be, help me always remember that by grace I am saved — and did not do that myself. You alone are my Savior and Lord! To You belongs all honor, majesty, praise and dominion.