Accepting Responsibility    

"The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." Col. John P. Stapp

Have you figured out that on our own we are kind of loose cannons?  I think we have all determined that every person on earth is a sinner.  If we know this intellectually, why do we have such a hard time acknowledging it to ourselves and to others?

The majority of the time when we sin we know it, (sometimes we don’t accept it because we are in denial), and every time we sin, God knows it.  The number one thing we need to do is understand our sin.  If we don’t understand that we are sinful and accept responsibility for our sinfulness, we are going to continue going down the same path sinning.

We blame others because we lost our job, we accuse the system of not treating us fairly, we take action against someone because they hurt us and we don’t look internally to what we might have done differently.  We blame someone else for our faults, our sin, and sometimes even God for the things that go wrong in our lives.

There are several things that can happen when we sin.  We do what I call DHC.  We deny it, hide it and cover it up.  Then we are going along thinking we have fooled everyone and then Murphy’s Law happens.  “If anything can go wrong it will.”  The irony of living under God’s Law is that when unfortunate things happen, and they will, we don’t blame someone else or God.  We accept that living in a fallen world we are going to have trials and hardships and it is a fact of our worldly life.  We are better able to handle the circumstances that occur in this world if God is on our side.

If we accept God’s Law as truth, then we are better able to handle what life throws at us.  If we understand that Satan is throwing some of this stuff our way, we can better fight against the habit of blaming others for our sin.  What sin in your life is keeping you from a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father?  Toss it aside and turn to Him.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am guilty of sin.  I accept responsibility for my sin.  I want to be a better follower of Jesus Christ.  I need Your strength to keep me on the right path.  Please help me to accept responsibility for my actions and turn to You for guidance. 

Scripture:  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:2-5