Who can I blame?

From The Voices and The Choices by Roxanne Parks on YouVersion

Blame and shame started in the Garden of Eden. These emotions were not a part of God’s original design of peace and harmony. We hear the old phrase “The devil made me do it.” That phrase carries an enormous truth. The enemy is a deceiver in every way!

In Genesis 3:1-3 we read Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Even though the devil tempted Eve and Adam with the words “Did God really say…?”, it was their choice in response to the enemy’s voice that changed their entire world. They entered a world of shame and blame. We live in that world today.

None of us really want to take personal responsibility for our poor choices. We might be embarrassed. Often, we have a myriad of excuses all leading to blame. God knows our human condition. He died to save us from death. We simply need to own up to our choices.

Luke 14:27 – Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

We need to carry our “crosses.”  Most importantly, we need to hear the voice of The Shepherd as He intimately cares for each single one of His sheep.

John 10:27-28 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

There is no blame for our lives. He knows. We know. We are sinners and by grace we are saved unto life … and life more abundantly. All choices have consequences. Be careful, this day, how you choose. Be cognizant of the voices and the choices. Choose very carefully. Choose wisely! Don’t live a life of blame or shame.

Question to ponder:

How could you identify blame, shame and poor choices in your own life?

Prayer:

Oh Lord! We want to live without blame or shame. Help us identify and eliminate our poor choices.