BECAUSE
Today's reading: 2 Kings 8-10

"Ahaziah followed the evil example of King Ahab's family, doing what was evil in the Lord's sight, because he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab." 2 Kings 8:27 NLT

Because-for the reason that; the fact that.

I have been given many, many, excuses as to why people sin.

I'm telling you, many excuses.

I've heard that old phrase, 'The devil made me do it.'

I've heard, 'I just couldn't help myself.'

I've heard, 'I knew it was wrong--but I was just going to do it once.'

I've even heard, 'I wouldn't have done it if I thought it would hurt someone else.'

I've heard sin referred to as a disease, as a diagnosis, as a result of society.

I've been told it's expected if one's been raised by a single parent, had trauma or experienced hard lives.

But Ahaziah's excuse was a new one...I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't married into it.

The heart of the matter is, and it's a conversation I had just yesterday, it's a heart matter.

Our hearts make us sin.

Not our neighbors, not our lack of sound parental guidance, not our body's chemical make-up, not our communities, not our society, not even our in-laws.

Our hearts.

Our own hearts.