Kill the Excuses!

You say you love Jesus—then why are you still flirting with sin?

Most men talk about being a “good guy.” But brother, God didn’t call you to be good. He called you to be holy.

This devotional is for the man who’s tired of spiritual laziness and half-hearted living. It’s for the husband, the father, the shepherd of the home who knows he’s been settling. Jesus didn’t die to make us comfortable—He died to make us whole. And that means killing sin and walking in holiness, one gritty, obedient day at a time.

God’s Word for Today

2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV) “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

Holiness isn’t just some spiritual ideal for Sunday morning or a preacher’s podium. It’s the backbone of real manhood. God gave us commands not to crush us, but to make us whole. His ways are healthy, functional, and freeing. A man who walks in holiness is a man fully alive—solid, unshaken, rooted in truth.

But here’s the danger: the places you think you’ve already won are often the ones that will trip you up. It’s easy to assume that because you stood strong in a past battle, that same area is now safe. Wrong. That’s where the enemy waits quietly. He wants you unaware, distracted, comfortable. And when you let your guard down in the name of past victories, that’s when compromise creeps in. Not with a bang. With a whisper.

Look at the men of the Bible. They didn’t fall in their weakest moments—they fell in their strong ones. When we examine our gifts and strengths – we find that we sin in them. Peter swore he’d never deny Christ. David was a man after God’s own heart. They weren’t fools. They were leaders. But they let their guard down. Their strength became their downfall. That’s why unguarded strength is double weakness.

Your spiritual high point might have been last month, last year, or five years ago. But it’s today that matters. Are you walking with Jesus right now? Are you living holy in this moment, in front of your wife, in the way you talk to your kids, in the quiet parts of your day? Or have you let passivity creep in while pretending you’re still the same man who once stood on that mountain with God?

This is why we need what the Japanese call Kaizen.

Kaizen means steady, intentional growth. Not just once in a while. Regular, consistent, ongoing progress. Day by day. Small steps. No skipping. That’s holiness. That’s progress – not perfection. That’s pursuit, not performance.

Jesus made it clear: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. That’s not a suggestion. That’s a command. When you love Him like that, you’re not looking for shortcuts. You’re not asking how much sin you can get away with. You’re asking how much closer you can get to Him.

Paul didn’t say “try to avoid sin” or “do better next time.” He said cleanse yourself. Purify every part of your life—body and spirit. And bring holiness to completion. Not halfway. Not occasionally. Every single day.

And John Wesley—he didn’t treat holiness like a fancy word. He saw it as the only real path to becoming like Jesus. A life that reflects God’s love and character. A man who doesn’t just talk faith but lives it in the dark corners and the public moments.

Some of you are in the muddy waters right now. You feel the weight of pride, shame, or sin. Good. That means you’re not numb. And it’s in that weakness that grace shows up strong. When you stumble, don’t wallow—look up. That’s where Jesus is. Hand extended. Not with guilt, but with power. Not with a lecture, but with love. Not just to forgive you, but to fuel you for the next step forward.

It’s a daily walk. It’s a gritty pursuit. But it’s worth everything.

Because a man walking in holiness is a man walking in strength. He’s a man worth following. He’s a man leading his home the way God intended.

Today’s “Shepherding in Action” Value

Daily obedience strengthens a man’s spiritual foundation and leads his family with steady, unwavering purpose.

Reflect / Apply / Share

1. Reflect – Where have you assumed you’re safe from temptation because of past victories? Have those areas become unguarded?
2. Apply – What one step can you take today to consistently walk in holiness and lead your home with intentional faith?
3. Share – Who in your circle needs to hear this challenge? What brother can you walk with as you pursue holiness together?

Bible References (ESV)

2 Corinthians 7:1 — “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

Matthew 22:37-40 — “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”

Personal Prayer

God, I want to walk in holiness, not pride. Cleanse my heart, sharpen my guard, and make me a man who reflects You in every part of my life.

My Personal Journey & Engagement Call
These weekday reflections flow from my time in God’s Word. I invite you to join me and other Men of the Shepherd in building Christ-centered homes—leading, discipling, and serving like Jesus.
If these reflections encourage you, please like, share, and pass them on so more men can grow in their calling.
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