Own It

OWN IT God teaches the principle of OWNERSHIP not EXCUSE making. (Ref. Matthew 5:23-24; Matthew 18:15-17) Matthew 5:43-45 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. When Jesus said to love our “enemies”, He took the EXCUSE card out of the deck. In every moment and situation we CHOOSE what we will be known as and known for, children of God or children of the devil. (Ref. John 8:44; 1John 3:7-15) God wants us to OWN our issues not ignore or shift blame. (Ref. James 1:13-15; 1John 1:9; James 5:16) FAILING FORWARD = learning from mistakes. When confronted with our wrongs, we have a choice to BLOW up or GROW up. Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. We are no longer hiding from who we used to be or our present struggles, but are able to FACE them, own them, and MOVE past them (grow from them). The peace, comfort, confidence, freedom, strength, and wholeness we seek is found in the LIGHT. 1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. We become stronger, healthier, whole as God PURIFIES our life from SIN (less than best).