Minute Musings...The Blame Game

There was a cute cartoon today on Facebook that made me chuckle.  An older woman
was looking into a mirror and she said, "They sure don't make mirror's the way they
use too, look at all the wrinkles!"  After I finished laughing, it hit me about what a sad
example this was of the mindset we all have.  When we don't like what we see, we blame
anything other than ourselves.  We do that all the time don't we, we don't like the grey
hair and wrinkles...the mirrors fault;  we don't like the number on the scales...the fault
of everyone else that shoved the food in our mouths;  we lost our temper...they provoked
me; and the list could go on and on.  We are experts at shifting the blame to others, but
the reality is that we are the ones at fault.

We do this with the Word of God as well.  We don't like what we read because it pokes
us with the sharp edge of the truth.  We begin to point to other things as the reason
why we sin.  This was what Adam and Eve did when they partook of the forbidden fruit
from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They saw their sin for what it was,
but instead of acknowledging it and then repenting, they passed the blame! 

Genesis 3:12 & 13  "And the man (Adam) said, The woman whom Thou gavest
to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.  And the LORD God said
unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done?  And the woman said, The
serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." 

Oh, we are so good at shifting the blame.  Have you noticed that this comes naturally?
You watch young children playing;  it's not long before there are squabbles erupting,
and they always have a reason for their outburst...they took my toy, they hit me...
Teaching children to take responsibility for their own actions is hard work because
it goes against their human, sinful nature.  Unfortunately a lot of adults still have not
learned this lesson...it goes against our sinful nature.  We read in Jeremiah 17:9,
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicket:  who can know
it."  The next verse tells us who does know it, "I the LORD search the heart, I
try the reins,"  Nothing is hid from God, so then why do we expend the energy trying
to convince Him that our sin is not our fault?

The Bible is referred to as the sword...why?  A sword cuts, and so the Word of God
cuts, and it reveals what is inside.  Hebrews 4:12  "For the word of God is quick,
and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  When we read the Word of
God, it shows us plainly our sin.  Do we like this?  No, no one likes to see their
faults.  This is usually when the blame game kicks in!  However, we need to be honest
with ourselves, and let God show us our sin. 

The life of a victorious Christian is not found in the sinful habit of blame.  Today,
let God use the Bible as a mirror in your life;  let Him show you the sin that lays
within your heart, take responsibility for it, repent of it and move on to a day of
victory in Christ your Lord and Savior. 

Psalms 19:7 - 11  "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:  the
testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  The statues of the
LORD are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever, the
judgments of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:  sweeter also than honey
and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them is thy servant warned:  and in
keeping of them there is great reward."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDqcle0-7yQ