Living the Christian life everyday means LISTENING TO GOD and DOING WHAT HE SAYS. God speaks to us through His word, prayer, circumstances, other people, the church. How do you respond?

I know what God says, BUT…

• “my situation is different.”
• “that will never happen to me.”
• “everyone else does it.”
• “that was a long time ago.”
• “they deserve it.”
• “god understands my needs.”
• “who really does that anyway?”
• “that’s just not possible for me.”
• “I’ll get around to that one day.”

When you disobey God it means there is a gap between where you are and where you know God wants you to be. “I know what God says, BUT…” or “I know what I should be doing, BUT…” reveals that gap for all that it is. When you excuse your disobedience, you are saying more about what you believe about God than anything else. What you should just go ahead and say is, “I know what God says, BUT…”

• “He really doesn’t matter that much to me.”
• “I know better than He does about this issue/situation. I’m so much wiser about these kind of things.”
• “God has changed since the Bible was written and all that stuff doesn’t really matter anymore.”
• “I’d rather do what my friends say than God. They are so much smarter than him.”
• “I don’t really think He can provide for this need. I’ll just do it myself.”
• “I don’t really believe in God at all. Since he’s not real, I can do whatever I want.”

If you can easily excuse a pattern of disobedience, blowing off the word and will of God, the book of 1 John says you are a liar, deceived, and in darkness.

The true Christian responds to God’s word with obedience. He’s revealed Himself in Christ who is willing to transform our lives. The transformed one responds to God with obedience. You can mind the gaps by repenting and being obedient to what God is calling you to do.

What gaps can you close right now?