Monday's message was about taking ownership—about recognizing the habits we’ve picked up from others and refusing to keep using them as excuses.

 

But today, I want to flip the mirror.

 

Yes, we’ve all said, “Well, that’s how I was raised,” or “That’s just what I saw growing up.” And sure, that might explain where a behavior started, but it doesn’t justify why it continues.

 

The real question is this:

 

Are you becoming someone else’s excuse?

 

A brother of mine messaged me after Monday's thought and shared how much of his poor behavior came from watching others—people who never thought twice about who was learning from them. And I felt the Spirit say, “That’s it. That’s the point.”

 

It’s not just about what we’ve learned from others…

 

It’s about what we’re teaching others right now.

 

Who’s watching your steps? Your kids? Coworkers? New believers?

 

We may not even realize it, but someone could be using you to justify their actions tomorrow.

 

Jesus said,

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck…” (Matthew 18:6, NASB)

 

That’s not condemnation—that’s a wake-up call.

 

Today, don’t just evaluate your habits.

 

Evaluate your influence.

 

Make the decision to live in such a way that no one could ever say, “Well, I learned it from watching him.”

 

Let your walk be blameless, not perfect—but blameless before men and accountable before God.

 

-Rev Carlos Figueroa