Addressing Blame

Addressing Blame

Exodus 22: ⁹ “For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. ¹⁰ If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, ¹¹ then an oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. ¹² But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. ¹³ If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.

 

¹⁴ “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. ¹⁵ If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.

 

============

 

GOD continued with HIS discussion with Moses. HE provided rules to guide people in dealing with conflict.

 

My Observations:

• GOD knew people would have selective memories when it concerned conflicting situations that needed to be resolved.
• GOD allowed humans to deal with their own situations versus inserting HIMSELF.
• GOD seemed to also be addressing a mindset of blame.

 

Being responsible for an accidental death of an animal meant paying for the dead animal because it was in the care of someone else. This applied to lost or stolen items as well. I believe GOD wants us to see two things, namely blame and responsibility.

 

Before taking on the care of an animal or a thing of value, know that you are responsible for it until it is returned. Blaming the person who put the thing in your care does not go well with GOD, so do not accept the responsibility. The same goes for the person who needs someone to care for something.

 

The owner of that thing needs to be responsible for placing something of value with people who may or may not care. The owner had responsibility of not blaming the caretaker. I believe GOD was demonstrating the care we should have in spreading the Gospel.

 

GOD gave this extremely important message and wants us to care for it without accidental death. HE wants us to be joyful in spreading the Gospel versus blaming HIM. The mindset of blame had to be addressed and turned into a mindset of responsibility.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about HIS rule or responsibility?
• Have you examined your tendencies to see if you blame others easily?
• Are you blaming GOD for anything that you should be responsible for?

What About Them?

What About Them?

James 4: ¹¹ Do not criticize one another, my friends. If you criticize or judge another Christian, you criticize and judge the Law. If you judge the Law, then you are no longer one who obeys the Law, but one who judges it. ¹² God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?

 

============

 

Speeding along in a friend’s car, it felt great to be behind the wheel of something that could really go fast! We were racing each other on the road when suddenly we cam upon several cops who were waiting for us. We were all pulled over. When one of the cops came to my car, I said in my defense, “What about them?” referring to the other speeders who were not pulled over. The reply, “But I caught you.”

 

• I was trying to use comparison as my defense.
• I thought I could use “judging someone else” to defend my breaking the law.
• I also thought I could do what I wanted to do.

 

James addressed judging other Christians. He specifically spoke to this group, probably due to them gathering together in small groups after being scattered by those who persecuted them. They may have begun to judge one another.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to look at myself instead of pointing out what other people are doing.
• GOD wants me to realize I have flaws that I need repaired by HIM.
• GOD wants me to let go of trying to change people who are not willing to change themselves.

 

Being critical of other people can be a defense mechanism for my own shortcomings. I mean, when I look at someone else and talk about him or her negatively, I am taking the lens off of me. BUT GOD sees my shortcomings clearly and wants me to see them too.

 

HE wants me to back off of looking at someone else and to ask HIM for forgiveness for my clear and blatant sins. HE is willing to forgive me and wants me to grow up to do the same. I am glad HE is the ultimate forgiver.

 

Challenge

• Why is the writer’s warning important?
• Have you ever been critical of someone and been guilty yourself?
• Will you take some time away from being critical and spend it asking GOD to continue to grow you in areas HE would like to grow you today?

Ownership

 Ownership

2 Thessalonians 3: ¹¹ We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. ¹² In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.

 

============

 

Frustrated with how things were going, I quickly assessed it was someone else’s fault. If this boss would simply act right, then I could climb the ladder faster and higher. I left that job in pursuit of the perfect group, only to be met with zero success. “What is wrong with me?” I finally shouted out.

 

• I could not fix my problem until I realized I had a problem.
• I was so busy looking at everyone else, that I took my eyes off of myself.
• I got comfortable blaming other people and did not own my choices, mistakes or path.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy give some harsh words to those who refused to work and who were meddling in other people’s business. They provided a solution to “Lazy lives” and “Meddling”, namely ownership.

 

My Observations

• My complaint about other people is usually a problem within myself that I need to give to the LORD.
• Any tendency to live a “lazy life” will backfire in my face.
• GOD wants me to confess ”my” sins so HE will cleanse “me” of all unrighteousness.

 

Ownership starts and stops with me. I mean, when I hear a sermon, it is not about someone else, rather I need to hear the words to grow in areas I am weak. GOD speaks to me daily through HIS word and convicts me in areas HE wants to grow me.

 

When I own my deficiency, HE gives me a workout plan to exercise to. Trial after trial, GOD strengthens me in areas I need to grow. When I can stand up in that area, GOD says “Well done!” I am glad GOD examines me and shows me that I need a perfect GOD to help me with “my” imperfections.

 

Challenge

• What complaint were the writers trying to address?
• Have you ever just wanted to be lazy or speak to other people about someone else?
• Will you take ownership of your relationship with GOD and confess your sins to HIM so HE will be faithful and just to forgive you today?

Criticism Reduction

Criticism Reduction

2 Corinthians 2: So I made up my mind not to come to you again to make you sad. ² For if I were to make you sad, who would be left to cheer me up? Only the very persons I had made sad. ³ That is why I wrote that letter to you—I did not want to come to you and be made sad by the very people who should make me glad. For I am convinced that when I am happy, then all of you are happy too. ⁴ I wrote you with a greatly troubled and distressed heart and with many tears; my purpose was not to make you sad, but to make you realize how much I love you all.

 

============

 

“Who did this?” I asked my family in my usual investigative tone. I wanted a confession, thinking this will “grow the culprit up.” Little did I know, I was creating an atmosphere of secrets.

 

• I was being too critical.
• I had not created an atmosphere where improvement is different for each person.
• I was caught up in the fast pace of the world and lost patience.

 

Paul chose to back off from being critical. He knew that something was not quite right with how the people of Corinth were following JESUS. But he had been corrected by GOD himself and did not want others to suffer as he did. Instead, he expressed his love for them.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to see HIS grace for my sins.
• GOD wants me to turn my hurt into grace for others.
• GOD wants me to seek grace as a gift that is freely given.

 

Being critical hurts. I mean, when I see something “wrong” I may want it “fixed.” But should “I” be the one fixing it? Not all the time. There are times when it is best for me to back off the situation and ask GOD to intervene.

 

The goal is to keep peace and harmony. This does not mean I should never speak up, but the ratio of speaking up versus letting it go needs to lean towards “letting it go.” If there is a common understanding, then certain words can be misused without me putting a boxing glove in another person’s face. We need each other. I am glad GOD is not critical of my sins.

 

Challenge

• What is the ultimate purpose of the writer?
• Do you see GOD’s grace in the writer’s words?
• How can you reduce your criticism of others in your daily walk?
• What benefits will you receive by creating an atmosphere where people can cheer you along with CHRIST as their motive?

Flip Back Over

Flip Back Over

Romans 14: ⁷ For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

 

¹⁰ You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹ It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

 

¹² So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

 

============

 

“Look at them doing wrong over there” is what they said about us as we were just having “fun.” We would laugh and when one of my friends did something outrageous, I laughed even more. Years later, I returned to CHRIST. I felt sorry for those stuck in having “fun.: Years after that I said “Look at them doing wrong over there.”

 

• When did I flip over to being the judge?
• When did I start seeing the wrong in people?
• When did I look to blame others?

 

Paul continues with his appeal as given to him by the LORD. He had just tried to convince everyone that people will do different things for JESUS, giving honor and thanks to HIM in different ways. Now he sends a plea to stop looking at one another in a judgmental way. He ends his plea stating we all will stand before GOD as individuals, giving account for how we treated each other.

 

• GOD wants me to live for HIM and serve others.
• GOD wants me to drop the judgment and add words of life to people.
• GOD wants me to rid myself of contempt of “those” people and add prayers for “us” as sinners.

 

Being a tattletale is childish. I mean, a child tells an adult when another child is doing something wrong, meanwhile the child never looks at him or herself. This is my saying, “We are all in the mud, throwing mud at each other, saying ‘you have mud on you.””

 

Judgment is a sin GOD does not like. HE sees when I look down on someone for their actions and does not go after “that” person but corrects me. HE wants me to see people as HIS children whom HE loves. I am glad HE provides grace to me and hope HE guides me drop judgment of people.

 

• Are you judging people?
• Do you see the wrong in people immediately?
• Have you asked yourself, “When did I get to this point where I am judging people and I used to be judged?”, so you can flip back over to loving others?

Blamed

Blamed

Acts 17: ⁵ But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” ⁸ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. ⁹ Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

============

Confused by the questions I asked “What is going on?” A group of people were stirring up anger at work and were not thinking rationally, rather they were acting with strong emotion. They wanted to vent their frustrations and decided to take them out on me.

• There have been times when I have been blamed.
• There have been times when I have been deemed guilty by association.
• There have been times when I have been confused because people were angry with me because I supported someone else.

Jason and other believers were dragged before the city officials by angry Jews. The angry mob did not believe JESUS was and is King of kings and Lord of lords. They made Jason and the believers post bond. They were blamed in public.

• GOD knows when people blame me because of my relationship with HIM.
• GOD expects me to be persecuted because of my relationship with JESUS.
• GOD understands my confusion when I am blamed and gives me peace beyond all understanding.

Being blamed or persecuted is never fun. No one wants to be the recipient of persecution, especially from an angry mob. BUT GOD knows this will happen to those who truly believe in the LORD.

JESUS said “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” I do not like the blame but I endure it by looking forward to GOD’s reward.

• Are you being blamed?
• Are you being persecuted because of your relationship with JESUS.
• Will you hold onto the peace, provided by the HOLY SPIRIT, that surpasses all understanding today?

Not my parent’s belief

Not my parent’s belief

Acts 4: ⁵ And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, ⁶ as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: ⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

============

After failing a test, I wondered, “What is wrong with me?” I mean I can comprehend. I even got on the dean’s list once. Then it hit me… “My parents are to blame!” They raised me with GODLY values and I blamed them for being hypocrites. So I stopped going to church and increased my social life.

• There was a time when I used blame as my protector.
• There was a time when I got mad easily because of other people.
• There was a time when I had no accountability for my actions because other people were at fault.

Peter, who denied his relationship with JESUS only a month or so prior, spoke boldly about HIM because HE was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. No longer was HE in the shadow of JESUS but the center of attention, pointing to salvation through JESUS.

• GOD wants me to have my own relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek maturity in HIM whether my parents, family or friends agree or not.
• GOD wants me to be bold with HIS message of salvation and take accountability for “my” words and actions.

Growing up can be hard. Growing up in CHRIST can be even harder. I mean it seems like when I start following JESUS, more problems arise. BUT GOD clears those problems up and grows my faith in HIM.

After graduating and living on my own for a while I felt something missing. I tried filling it with lust and nightlife, but it was empty. I then sought after learning about GOD, this time for myself. I saw how HE sustained other people.

When a problem arose, I took a deep breath and relied on GOD this time. I was amazed at how fast the problem went away. I was being prepared for bigger, longer problems. I am grateful GOD matures me day by day.

• Are you looking at someone else’s faith and using it as an excuse for not believing in JESUS?
• Do you see hypocrisy in others so you feel justified in running away from GOD?
• Will you seek the “Chief cornerstone” from whom salvation is given, namely JESUS today?

Blamed or Believed

Blamed or Believed

John 11: ¹⁷ So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. ¹⁹ And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

²⁰ Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. ²¹ Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

²⁴ Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

²⁷ She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

============

As the car in front of me crept through the yellow light, I was forced to stop. “That car made me late for work!” I exclaimed. When finally I made it to the meeting, I noticed they got my breakfast order wrong. “They did this on purpose” I thought to myself. I really did not like the person who was hosting the meeting.

• There were situations out of my control that were easier to blame someone so I could make sense out of it.
• There were times when it was easier to blame someone else when I did not get “my” way.
• There were times when I blamed the benevolent, misunderstanding their motives because I could not see how someone would care for me.

Martha was hurt that JESUS did not come in time to “save” her brother. While JESUS told her what HE was about to do by saying “Your brother will rise again”, she replied “Yeah, yeah, yeah, resurrection” as if to say, “But what about now?” She blamed JESUS for not being there for her.

• GOD wants me to throw away my blame for others.
• GOD wants me to get rid of blaming HIM for difficult situations.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS power to sustain, fix and grow me.

JESUS is “The resurrection AND the life.” HE is focused on this life as well as the afterlife. HE is not to be blamed, but praised. JESUS has a great plan for me that sometimes I do not understand. HE gives me the faith to know HE has no harm meant for me but a plan to prosper me.

• Who are you blaming for where you are in life?
• Do you blame GOD easily?
• Will you trade your easy “blame” for easy “belief” in JESUS today?

Turn Down the Sound

Turn Down the Sound

John 8: ⁴³ Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. ⁴⁶ Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

============

With the feeling of guilt, I got into my car. I knew what I had done was wrong and I felt bad about it. I rationalized my sin by saying, “Well, it’s not like I’m murdering someone or doing drugs”. In order to drown out the guilt, I turned up the music. “Ah, that’s better” I said to myself. I wonder how long I can distract myself with music? The next day, my peers congratulated me because they too were doing the same.

• There were times when I did not want to be guilty.
• There were times when I wanted to turn up the noise in order to drown out my guilt.
• There were times when I tried to fill my life with the noise of being busy so I would not have to listen to what I was supposed to.

JESUS tells the church leaders “Your father is the devil, who lies all the time.” Being a strong group, they probably talked to each other, justifying their hatred towards JESUS. Their hearts were too hard to hear GOD, but they could hear each other.

• GOD wants me to be quiet sometimes so I can listen to HIM.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM what HE wants me to do before I make my decisions.
• GOD wants me to give my guilt to HIM by confessing my sin, rather than hiding from HIM and adding noise to my life.

Meeting GOD head on is what HE wants from me. HE wants me to not hide in my guilt, rather give it to HIM to do as HE pleases. The more I ignore GOD, the harder my heart gets. Soon, I would not be able to hear HIM at all. BUT GOD steps in. HE orchestrates circumstances in my life that require me to listen to HIM. I am grateful HE cares for me.

• Are you trying to ignore GOD so you can do what you want to do?
• Do you avoid studying GOD so you won’t have to know your guilt?
• Will you stop looking at other people and look at your own guilt so you can confess to GOD and allow HIM to cleanse you of all unrighteousness?

It’s Not My Fault

It’s Not My Fault

John 5: ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

¹¹ He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

¹² Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

¹⁵ The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

============

Sneaking off to the movies with someone I was amorous with seemed like a good idea. After my day of enjoyment I found myself having to make my way home. Unfortunately, the person lived in a tough neighborhood. I was chased. “How am I going to explain getting beat up and robbed when I wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place?” Then I questioned the strictness of dating when I made it to safety.

• There were times when I wanted to leave out information so I would not get in trouble.
• There were times when I made sure that I was not the person at fault rather it was someone else’s fault.
• There were times when I was caught in the act and quickly thought of ways of trying to not make it my fault.

The crippled man was healed by JESUS but it does not say that he thanked HIM or found out HIS name. He was so excited that he ran off. Unfortunately he ran into the church leaders who judged him for carrying his bed. “It’s not my fault… I was healed” said the man in a self-protecting way. I would have done the same.

• GOD wants me to take responsibility for my sin.
• GOD wants me to understand that I need HIM so I should approach HIM with my ugly hidden sin.
• GOD wants me to stop blaming everyone else and accept the fact that I can mess up and I need HIS help every day.

Being responsible for my actions may include accepting consequence for decisions that may have hurt me or others. GOD shows me grace beyond belief and this is the great news I can share. Back to the man in this slice of history.

JESUS found him in the temple and said “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” I supposed JESUS had a reason for saying this to the man. Probably the man did something sinful to get into the crippled situation in the first place. I can’t tell. But I do know GOD wants me to sin less and less to stay out of HIS trouble.

• Are you blaming others for where you are in life?
• Do you blame GOD for what is happening to you right now?
• Will you start accepting responsibility for your sin and allow GOD to use you today?

Walking Away

Luke 15: ¹¹ Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. ¹³ And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. ¹⁴ But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

============

Tired of the hypocrisy, I stopped going to church. I mean they tell me to “stop sinning” and “give money” yet their actions only pointed to sleeping around and sustaining their salaries, as if GOD were a business. When I left I decided that “sleeping around” and “sustaining my salary” was a good idea. Things did not go well.

• When blame is on my mind, sometimes it is actually a desire.
• When I get mad at what other people are doing, sometimes I’m seeing what I “want” to do.
• When leaving a good place is my first thought, I may have misread why I was there in the first place.

JESUS had just spoken about a lost sheep then a lost coin, now HE provides a parable of a son who saw his father as nothing more than money. In fact, he demanded an inheritance in a way to claim his father as being “dead” to him. He squandered everything and could not sustain himself when life became difficult.

• GOD sees my hurt and understands it.
• GOD sees my tantrums and puts up with it.
• GOD sees my blame, lust, gullibility and rage, yet HE allows me to keep going.

 

With no argument from the father, the son got what he wanted and needed. He received money and compassion. I do not see an argument from the father nor an attempt to explain the dangerous path the young man was going down. GOD allows me to decide the paths I travel. Walking away from GOD was not a good choice for me.

• Are you considering walking away from GOD because you think your life should be better?
• Is life difficult right now and you are tempted to pull away from those who follow GOD?
• Will you put your trust in GOD today in spite of what is going on in your life?