…so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…
Philippians 2:15 NIV
Blameless
Canadians like to think our justice system is one of the best in the world. But ask the dozens of people prosecuted and imprisoned for serious crimes they didn’t commit, and you’re likely to get a different view, especially from those accused of murder. In recent decades, more than 20 Canadians have been locked up — much of their lives destroyed — for murders they had nothing to do with. Their wrongful convictions are a stain on our history, while their subsequent exonerations give cause for hope.
***
One of the first things children learn is to deflect blame. When a parent tries to get to the bottom of tears that have resulted from some conflict or another, both parties will say, right away, one of two things: “I didn’t do it” or “he did it!” I watch enough crime shows to know that very often this carries on into adulthood. It is natural instinct to not accept the blame for anything. The sad truth is that none of us are perfect – we are all to blame for our selfish pride, our failure to keep promises and flat out – our sin. None of us are blameless. So how are we to understand what Paul says in Philippians 2:15: “…so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…” There is only one way for us to be blameless, and that is to stand strong in Jesus, having sought His forgiveness and empowerment to live a godly life. He is the only blameless One, and when He takes up residence in us by faith, we walk in His blamelessness.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley