Taking Responsibility

Taking Responsibility

Dear Champions,

The short excerpt is by Andy Stanley, and the scripture is in the excerpt.  The verses below are after Adam and Eve sinned.  It's the beginning of mankind being irresponsible.

 

Genesis 3:8-12  Just after Adam and Eve sinned, the man and the woman heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.   But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?".  He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid."  And God said, "Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" Adam said, "Yes I did, and I take full responsibility for my actions.  Do with me as you will, but leave Eve out of this.  She is innocent."

 

Verse 12 is not in the Bible.  The world would be a different place if that is what Adam had said.  If only he had thrown himself down and said, "I'm here to protect and defend the reputation of my wife.  I take full responsibility for everything." 

 

Verse 12 actually says this.  The man said, "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."  I didn't ask for a woman, I didn't even know what a woman was.  There was just you and me and the animals.  It was a little lonely, but I was fine.  And then you took this rib out of me and you made this woman.  Look at the mess and the chaos that she has created.  God, this isn't my fault.  This is your fault and her fault.  So you guys work it out, and leave me out of it.  She gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.  Ultimately, I'm not responsible for all of this.  

 

Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?"  And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate it.  It's not my fault either." 

 

Irresponsibility that leads to blame always creates conflict.  Where there is blame there is usually irresponsibility, shame and guilt.  Isn't it amazing and so rare when somebody steps up and says, "I'm to blame for what happened?  It may not all be my fault, but I'm responsible. 

 

Are we taking responsibility for our life, or are we blaming others or God?

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

He Took The Punishment

He Took The Punishment

 

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is by Steven Estes and Joni Eareckson Tada, and the Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Jesus who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

"Son of Man (Jesus)!  Why have you behaved so?  You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped-murdered, envied, hated, lied.  You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten-fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed.  Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned!  Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name?  Have you ever held your razor tongue?  What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk-you, who molest young boys, peddle killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents.  Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons?  Does the list never end!  Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp-buying politicians, practicing exhortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes.  You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves-relishing each morsel and bragging about it all.  I hate, loathe these things in you!  Disgust for everything about you consumes me!  Can you not feel my wrath?"

 

Of course the Son was innocent.  He was blamelessness itself.  The Father knew this.  But the divine pair had an agreement, and the unthinkable had to take place.  Jesus was treated on the Cross as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.

 

Reflect on the fact that Christ bore the punishment for your sins.  He took the punishment you deserved.  Do you feel His passionate and specific love for you?  He died for you.  He was condemned and cursed so that you could go free-He was forsaken by God so that you would never be forsaken (Hebrews 13:5).

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining