No Excuses for Disobedience
Brothers and sisters, my hope is that you came this morning ready for a fight.
Not a physical fight, but a fight against the temptation to use our personalities as an excuse for disobedience to the gospel.
Let me explain.
If you believe yourself an introvert, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to showing hospitality or opening up your life to others in the church.
And if you see yourself as an extrovert, that doesn’t mean you get a pass on being patient with those who may be quieter or more reserved—sometimes, just needing someone to listen.
No one’s personality, no matter how we see ourselves, should dictate our obedience to Christ’s commands. Instead, Christ’s commands should dictate how we navigate within our perceived personalities.
But it’s not just personality.
Whether you’re rich or poor, in a strong marriage or a struggling one, athletic or not, tall or short, brilliant, dyslexic, OCD, any skin color, any background—it doesn’t matter.
“If only I had this…”
“If only my church did that…”
“If only my dad had stayed or my boss kept me around…”
“If only I made more money, lived somewhere else, or my spouse respected me…”
Christian, none of these are excuses for disobedience to Christ. If it impacts your faith, virtue, self-control, steadfastness, brotherly affection, or love for the church, we don’t get to say, “That’s just who I am.”
In fact, “who we are” isn’t just a bad excuse—it’s actually the problem.
And sanctification is the solution: the process where the Holy Spirit overcomes who we are and makes us more like Christ.
We should be brutally honest with what we perceive our personalities to be and the areas where we need the Holy Spirit to change us.
Here’s the incredible news from 2 Peter 1:
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
This verse robs us of any excuse that we have to blame (what we think) is our personality. It tells us we have everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ as God sanctifies us, conforming us to His image.
That’s an amazing promise! His grace is always sufficient—whatever the challenge.
So, what should we do with this?
Constantly yield your personality to the Holy Spirit.
Pray for the strength to overcome the very things you think define you.