Do you suffer from Big But Syndrome? No, this isn’t a devotion on weight loss or exercise plans—check the spelling.  

The problem I’m speaking of goes something like this: “I’m sorry, but you just don’t understand.” “I’m sorry, but it’s not all my fault.” “I know cheating is wrong, but everyone else does it.” “I know I should spend more time with God, but I’m just so busy all week.” But … but … but.

Excuse making comes naturally to us because it started with us: “The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it’” (Genesis 3:12). Did you hear it? “I’m sorry, God, but it’s really your fault.” 

“Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate’” (Genesis 3:13). Translated: “I’m sorry, God, but the devil made me do it.”

Thankfully, God’s forgiveness didn’t come with a but. Sure, there were consequences for Adam and Eve because of their sin, just like there usually are when we sin, but God’s forgiveness is unconditional. He doesn’t say, “I forgive you, but you better be perfect going forward.” Rather, he has forgiven us even though he knows we will never fully obey him. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Jesus’ death and resurrection say, “You are forgiven … no ifs, ands, or buts!”