No Excuse, Sir

Recently, my pastor preached a sermon on James 5:7-11.  The sermon was titled Living Patiently, and was to remind us that although we live in an “instant gratification” society, we Christians are to be heavenly minded.  Pastor related a frustrating incident he had while waiting in line at a gas station.  He became visibly impatient, and to compound his failure, he was seen by someone from his church. 

We all know the feeling.  We bear the name of Christian, but fail to live up to that standard, and others see it.  We’re embarrassed because we know that our actions say something to those who are watching.

And we should try, and try hard not to sin.  But, my question is, “How do we react once we sin and someone sees that we’re not perfect?” 
 
We all have an inner hunger to feel good about ourselves, to be righteous, but we’re not...and we hate that about ourselves.  We hate to be caught and confronted with our own messed-up-ness. 

Again I ask, “How do we react?” 
 
Plebes at the Naval Academy are taught Five Basic Responses.  My favorite and the one which best defines life as a plebe is, “No Excuse, Sir,”  to which the upperclass normally respond, “You’re right, there’s no excuse for you.”

One of our biggest difficulties to bear as Christians is living with our own imperfectness.  But, I submit that admitting our failures to a watching world is huge, and is a testament to our faith.

What if we adopted a “No Excuse, Sir” attitude?

“Yes, I messed up.  I’m sorry.  I’m not perfect, and I hate that about myself.  But, that’s why Jesus came and died for my sins.  That’s my peace.” 

For a Christian to share his own sins and the gospel with a struggling sinner is medicine the sinner needs to hear.  We’re all looking for someone who knows everything about us, who knows we’re not perfect, and loves us anyway, enough to die for us.  That person is Jesus.  But He uses us imperfect Christians to get His message and His love to others.

To admit our wretchedness to ourselves is also medicine to our own souls, as Paul said:

Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 7:24-25

It’s hard to do, to say, “I’m sorry. I messed up.”  And, it feels awkward.  The sinner inside us doesn't like it - but the Spirit brings a strange yet comforting peace to our hearts when we confess, repent, and hear the gospel.  “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”