1 John 1:8-9: If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(HCSB)

As my friend and I are chatting over a cup of coffee this morning, she is telling me about a recent event with her three-year-old granddaughter.  The granddaughter had discovered a tube of the reddest shade of lipstick that grandma owned.  How could this marvelous discovery not be put to use?!  She had put lipstick on her eyelids for eye shadow, on her cheeks for blush, and somewhere under the many layers of red, were some lips.  When she presented herself to her grandmother, grandmother’s immediate reaction was to scream, “What have you done?”  The three-year-old’s reply was also immediate — “It was an accident, Grandma.  It’s not my fault.”  As we were laughing, it came to mind how Your children have this same answer when we make a mess of things.  Adam not only said “It wasn’t my fault” but even suggested that it was Your fault — “this woman that You put here” (Gen 3:12).  Many years ago, my husband coached five and six year-olds on a baseball team.  He had one little boy on the team whose mantra was “I didn’t mean to do that so its not my fault.”  I didn’t plan to tell that lie; it just slipped out so it isn’t my fault.  I say what I think no matter who it hurts – it’s just the way I am so it isn’t my fault.  I sort of stumbled into that sin, so it really isn’t my fault.  Society says its okay, so I’m not really doing anything wrong.  It really wasn’t my fault so it really wasn’t a sin.  1 John 1:8 says that if we say (or think) we aren’t sinning, then we are deceiving ourselves.  Just because I can justify my sin or place the blame at someone else’s feet, doesn’t mean I’m not a sinner.  1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(HCSB). Thank you, Jesus, for saying “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34) instead of “Father, give them the punishment they deserve because this is all their fault.”