"That's just the way I am"

Do you believe that saying, "that's just the way I am", entitles you to behave in any manner you choose without consequences. Do you expect that saying that will keep your words and actions from being hurtful to others? No matter how you are or how you've always been, the mentality that it's "just the way you are" is not an excuse for your behavior. The time has come for you to own up to your own mistakes, deal with your own problems, and take responsibility for yourself, your words, and your actions. There is nothing that says that the way you are is the way you must be. On the contrary, you claim to know Christ. You claim to be a child of the King of Kings. Therefore, you should be DIFFERENT from how you've always been. I'll start with the simplest thing I can think of. Scripture says that the fruits of the spirit (signs that show us that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within us) are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Are your words and actions loving? Or, are they seeking to satisfy your own selfish desires? Are you joyful or are you miserable? Are you at peace? Do you seek peace? Or are you always trying to keep someone fighting? Are you patient? Or are you demanding? Do you pout when you don't get your way immediately? Do you show kindness to everyone? Or do you say and do hurtful things to others to make yourself feel superior? Are you good? None of us are good without Christ. Are you faithful in anything? Are you gentle? Or are you harsh and unyielding? Are you approachable? Or do people hide from you or fear you? Do you have self-control? Do you over indulge food or drink? Are you a drunk? What about sexual purity? Do you abstain from sex with anyone besides your husband or wife? Or do you continually and habitually just do what satisfies your own selfish desires? If you do know Christ and are a child of the King of Kings, then most of these should show up in most of your life. If they don't, perhaps it's time to sit down and take a second look at why you believe you know Christ. Scripture instructs us to examine ourselves to see if we are of the faith. Are you really a child of the King of Kings? If you are, do you still think it's ok for you to excuse your behavior and words with, "It's just the way I am!"?