Year of the Bible: Part Six of Twelve Exemplo

Not My Fault!

There is so much that these passages reveal about the authority of the believer, the power of God, the vanity of idolatry, God's unconditional love, hearing the still small voice of God, or responding to God's call without turning back. The Lord can speak to you on any of those points from these Scriptures.

Today, however, let's zero in on one verbal exchange between King Ahab and the prophet Elijah. When the prophet showed up before the king after years of drought, Ahab's first reaction was, "Is that you, o troubler of Israel?" Of course, Elijah wasn't the reason for the drought and famine; these hardships were the consequences of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel’s idolatrous life and leadership. Isn't that a typical human reaction when we mess up, to quickly blame it on someone else? To deflect any responsibility for things we've done that hurt others or may result in negative consequences or pain? "Your fault!" or "But that guy ..." or "I didn't do it."

Question: Do you have some self-protection mechanisms that keep you from owning your own mistakes, failures, or weaknesses?

Prayer: "God, I realize I can never grow if I don't pause to take responsibility for my sin, hurtful words, and failures. Forgive me for trying to defend myself, blame others, or otherwise try to save myself when You already paid the price to save me." Now, lift up any specific situations the Lord has shown you and enjoy your new freedom.