You Have No Excuse

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, November 28, 2023
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God.
2 Peter 1:3 (CEV)

Back in my high school teaching days, I experienced the anguish of parents even before I had children of my own. It was painful to hear a parent ask a child why she was performing poorly in school despite the parent providing all necessary requirements for success. According to the parent, the child had no excuse for failing academically.

We Have Everything We Need

Apostle Peter subtly depicts such a scenario, but in this case, God and man are the main characters. Peter asserts, “We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3).

God is like the parent who reads his son’s school report card and discovers His child is underperforming despite all the resources the boy has at his disposal. Peter is categorical in that God has provided everything we need to lead a life that glorifies God. The Almighty does not expect us to be pious without providing the necessary resources.

You Have No Excuse

God is the farmer who provides water, sunshine, and nutrients to the plants in His vineyard but does not get the kind of fruit He expects during harvest time. Here is His anguished cry against the vineyard: “What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:4).

You have no excuse for not living piously. God is ready to dwell in you through the Holy Spirit and to transform you into His image. He has given you His word, that you may know His character and, by grace, live devoutly. Instead of accusing the devil, other people, and circumstances around you for your waywardness, ask God to help you live according to His will.

Prayer
Dear Father, You have provided everything I need to live righteously. Indeed, I have no excuse. Come, dwell in me, and transform my character to be like Yours.