No Exceptions
“I don’t speed unless I’m in a big hurry.”
“I always tell the truth…..unless it doesn’t hurt someone.”
“I don’t take shortcuts and skimp on work….unless the boss is not around and I can get out a few minutes early.”
We consider these rather harmless exceptions. If no one gets hurt, or in the case of breaking the speed limit, if we don’t get caught – what is the harm? Should we be so tuned into integrity, honesty, and countenance that even these harmless moments that occur every day should be brought under the microscope?
Absolutely. 100%. Yes.
Remember Matthew 5: 48 – “Therefore be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Every time Jesus brings the pain to the Pharisees, he is addressing the exceptions they continued to make. They lived by the “do as I say, not as I do” philosophy. The Law was clear and upheld by their external expressions of piety and holiness, but as Jesus exposed in Matthew 23, they were corrupt inside.
Nothing is lost on God. What we do that is good and right, even if no one ever knows we did it, is seen and held on to by God. In the same way, what we do that is sinful and disobedient, even if no one every knows, is seen and acknowledged by God. This is not a warning akin to “you better watch out, you better not cry. You better not pout…because Santa is coming” type warning. It is a call to integrity, purity of heart.
We are to seek perfection, complete union between our actions and our hearts. Moses, as highlighted in yesterday’s sermon found himself threatened with death at the hand of God because of one small exception he made on his way to Egypt (Exodus 4: 24-25). If God was ready to start over with His deliverance of Israel because of this small exception… Should we be that much more aware of the exceptions we’ve made?
Absolutely. 100%. Yes.