The way my husband Phil tells it, it went something like this: Phil and the kids were at his parents’ house in Houston for a visit (I was teaching at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in, well, Colorado). Phil and his dad were sitting on the couch talking while Phil’s mom got dinner ready in the kitchen. Timmy, wanting to be where Grandma was, was getting underfoot. So Phil removed him from the kitchen to the adjoining living room.
Before I finish the story, I should also tell you that we have been working on teaching Timmy the meaning of the word “no”. It had been going well that weekend, right up until Timmy got removed to the living room. He toddled back toward the kitchen.
“No, Timmy!” my husband instructed.
Timmy paused right there at the dividing line between the carpet of the living room and the linoleum of the kitchen floor. He stood there rocking back and forth from one foot to the other. And then, ever so slowly, he extended one toe and touched the linoleum with it.
At that point, my husband jumped up, hauled Timmy back to the couch, and said, “Time out, Timmy.”
Timmy had disobeyed.
But it was only one toe, we might be tempted to protest. It’s not like he went all the way into the kitchen.
That’s the problem. We excuse our children’s disobedience by saying that it’s not that big a deal. Worse yet is the fact that we do the same thing regarding our disobedience to God. We act like sticking a toe over the line ought to be okay with Him.
I didn’t have an affair; I just flirted a little, we rationalize.
Yes, I was impatient. But look at all I have to put up with!
So I don’t ever read my Bible regularly. At least I know what it says.
We look at our disobedience and say that one toe over the line shouldn’t be that big a deal, when in reality, God doesn’t want us to be anywhere close to the line. Jesus had lots to say to those who thought their sin was no big deal. He told them that even those who are guilty of “little” sins are in fact guilty of the “big” ones as well.
Flirting is already being unfaithful. Being impatient is being selfish. Neglecting God’s Word is disrespect and disobedience.
Is there something in your life right now that’s sin, for which you have been making excuses? Have you sinned in a way that you’re trying to pretend is no big deal?
Lest you say “no” too quickly, remember that we have all sinned, and if you’re not in this situation right now, you’ll be tempted to excuse or minimize your sin in the future. But instead of doing that—instead of acting like one toe over God’s line is no problem—let’s fall on our knees before God and repent. Let’s be sorry. Let’s turn from our sin.
No more excuses or minimizing, mom. No more.
John 15:22—“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” (ESV)