The "They" and "We" Syndrome

# 210 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15: “And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." It's the old “they” and “we” syndrome. I suspect you know it all too well in your own life. I know I know it in mine. Here's how it works, when things don't turn out right it's “they”, but when they turn out well, it's “we.” Saul realizes that he has been caught red-handed by Samuel, and immediately he breaks out his excuses. HE didn't bring back the livestock, “THEY” did. And he felt they had a legitimate reason to do so, namely to sacrifice them to the Lord. But God was not interested in the tainted sacrifice of what had been the Amalekites, and He wasn't interested in Saul's excuses. His command was to utterly destroy anything connected to them. Since Saul was the authority that had been appointed by God to do His will, the buck stopped with Saul. He was responsible for the “they.” It's just like it was in the Garden of Eden. Adam was the authority figure. He allowed Eve to taste of what was forbidden and the buck stopped with him. Remember his response to God? He blamed Eve. Remember her response? She blamed the serpent. Will someone step up to the plate here and take responsibility? When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba, he didn't look for a scapegoat, he said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” In Ro 14:10-12 we read, “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” On that Day, it won't be about “they”, it'll be about you! If you duck your sins now, you will pay in spades later, spending eternity in hell. Rather hear and believe this: 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So when the Holy Spirit confronts you with sin in your life, stop excusing it. Confess it, and receive God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. And when your time of accounting arrives, remember only those who are found in Christ will be found not guilty.