Last year I started my own graphic design business called 1913 Designs with the purpose of helping churches and small ministries with any graphic design needs they may have. I’m often asked what the 1913 stands for. It’s based on a piece of scripture that has meant a lot to me in the past two years.
Psalm 19:13 says “Keep your servant from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.”
As I studied scripture, I kept running across the word blameless. It’s mentioned THROUGHOUT scripture. I had never really come across that word in scripture before. (There’s some insight to my previous lack of time in the Word!)
What does it mean to be blameless? It sounds like it’s impossible to attain doesn’t it?
By just looking at it, blameless could simply be translated to read ‘without blame’. Am I without blame (or sin)? Of course not! I am a sinner! I ask for forgiveness daily. The only person who has ever walked this earth without blame was Christ Jesus!
Luke 1 tells a story about a priest named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth. Both are referred to as being blameless. Verse 6 in the NASB says “They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all of the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” Both Zacharias and his bride Elizabeth were ultimately concerned with being righteous before God, who saw not only their actions and deeds while on this earth, but saw their hearts. They were concerned with keeping God’s commands in such a way that they prayed about what God would have them do in every situation in their daily lives. One day while Zacharias was doing his priestly duties in the temple, an angel of the Lord appeared before Zacharias and told him that he and his wife would have a son even though they were both advanced in years. That son who they were to name John (the Baptist) was going to make ready a people for the Lord. The angel Gabriel then went on and assured Zacharias and that he was sent by God to tell him this amazing news. But then Zacharias did something you wouldn’t expect someone who was just described as blameless to do. Zacharias questioned and doubted God. His unbelief was a sin. God disciplined him because of it. Immediately, Zacharias was mute and unable to speak until after his son was born. But because of his faith in God and our Savior’s amazing grace, he was not condemned for his lapse in belief. He was still referred to as blameless by Luke in scripture.
As I’ve been on a pursuit of what it means to be blameless these past two years, I’ve learned that being blameless doesn’t mean that I live a sin-free life. That’s not humanly possible. I read a transcript lately of a sermon on what it means to be blameless by Pastor Paul Rendall of Tama, Iowa and the following sentences sum up being blameless very well. He wrote “… to be blameless is not to be sinless; but it is being willing to be taught, willing to be led, holding fast to all the truth that God has imparted to you; both in terms of Biblical teaching and the experience of learning to do what is right in the various situations of your life; this is what it means to be blameless.” That definition aligns perfectly with Psalm 119:1-2 that states “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”
Do you struggle with trying to be a “perfect” Christian? I beg you not to attain for this goal. It’s going to lead into disappointment and frustration. Rather, together let’s all strive to be blameless; to be teachable, mold-able and able to learn from the experiences God has brought us through.
Heavenly Father, It is my prayer that you would work in us to make us blameless. Not because of the blessing that Your Word promises, but because of our desire to be more like you. Lord, I ask that those times when we doubt or question like Zacharias did would be fewer and fewer as we continue to root our trust and desires in Your pure holiness. Continue to teach us, to mold us, to align our hearts to Yours so we may keep your statutes and seek you with all of our hearts. In Your Holy name, Amen.
