“I Did Nothing Wrong”

This is how an unfaithful wife behaves: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, “I did nothing wrong.” – Proverbs 30:20

This verse is repulsive to me, not because it’s about a self-righteous woman sleeping around, but because I am disgusted with myself and with all of humanity for being her. Too many times I have defended my thoughts or behavior, and told myself, “It’s not wrong.” Or “It wasn’t that bad.”

That’s the thing about comparing: We will always be the unfaithful wife if we are comparing ourselves to others, or our culture’s standards.

The only standard we have to measure against is God’s. I hate being wrong. But worse than being wrong or doing wrong is defending wrong.

This is usually how it goes for me:

A situation occurs, and I (internally) blame someone or something else, then I start defending myself and then warning bells go off in my head because I know that this means whether or not I started the wrong I am now in the wrong. My heart is wrong.

And that makes me mad because I hate being wrong, and it’s NOT FUN when God convicts you, and it’s not easy to let go of my “right” and/or what another person did or said.

But because I’m now aware, it is my responsibility to do the right thing, no matter what anyone else says or does, and no matter what I feel like doing. And basically I feel like a three year old having a meltdown in the middle of the grocery store, because I don’t feel like doing it. I feel like being mad or selfish or whatever.

Fortunately, God can handle my toddler fits.

And the grace He gives is greater (James 4:6).

Defending wrong is worse than being wrong or doing wrong, but worst of all is staying wrong. I don’t ever want my heart to be hardened by pride or self-righteousness.

See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword – it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart. 

Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. 

Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol [great high priest] who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua [Jesus], the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true. 

For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin. 

Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:12-16