Explanation, Not Excuse

The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. Ezekiel 18:20

Our Passage today is really interesting compared to yesterday’s in Exodus 20:5-6. In that passage God talked about how blessings and curses flow down family lines. Today, the emphasis is on how we are each responsible for our own choices. 

What if those two passages are not a contrast, but a complement? Together, they give an explanation but not an excuse. Think of it this way: in Exodus God is helping explain why we have so many impulses towards bad behavior and in Ezekiel he's reminding us that we're able to choose what is good (and responsible to do so!).

While it would be really nice to be able to blame your parents for your faults, but that helps no one. The only way to grow is to take responsibility for your own actions.

Take some time today to confess your responsibility in how you have acted poorly and resolve, with God’s help, to make a change for good.