Blame vs Accountability

 

Wednesday June 12^th 2024

Some weeks just seem to have a theme. This week’s theme is BLAME.

On Sunday we read the Genesis story of Adam and Eve eating from the tree from which they were told not to eat. Each one placed blame on the next: Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. No one took responsibility for their own actions. (See Genesis 13)

How many of us, when something happens, place the blame on someone – or something – other than ourself?

One of my common ones in the past year or so has been the typing of a wrong letter on my phone. Truth be told, it is my “fat fingering” and not the fault of the phone or even auto-correct. In fact, my phone will no longer correct some of my common mistakes! Yet I often say “stupid phone” or “annoying autocorrect” when those mistakes appear.

So, in balance, I would offer you a better word for this week: ACCOUNTABILITY.

Let’s make a conscious effort to accept responsibility for our actions, make corrections, request forgiveness when necessary, and step away from the blame game. Be an example to others as we live a lifestyle of accountability.

All eyes are on the weather this week – cold, snow, wind…. All forces that create a variety of feelings and also a call to action. Today let’s focus on SNOW.

Here in the mid-Atlantic we are unusually cold, and our lawns are blanketed with snow. It’s lovely to look at from inside the warmth of our homes. And there are some who enjoy getting out and sledding, snowboarding, or skiing.

Typically in winter all the trees are bare and the grass is not as green and lush. Then a beautiful fresh layer of snow covers everything with a clean coat and a little sparkle.

Psalm 51:7 finds David saying “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” When we think of sins we think of dirty transgressions… and when God washes away those sins we become whiter than snow. Not just covered up like the bare dead branches. We actually become snowy white. Our sins are not just hidden – they are gone! – as long as we ask God for forgiveness and we accept it.

Later, in Psalm 148:7-9 we read “Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths,
⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him,…”

The snow obeys Him, along with the rest of the weather. God uses snow to remind us of the beauty He can make of our lives – He can make beauty from ashes, and allow us to live for Him and serve Him, unhindered by the sin that weighs us downs if we don’t ask forgiveness.

What do you want to give Him today? What forgiveness do you need so that you too can be sparkling clean like the fresh fallen snow?