It's Not My Fault!

 When is the last time you spoke those words? We associate this phrase most of the time with children; however, many teens and even adults are guilty of committing this same sin.  We love to blame others even when we know for a fact that it is our fault. Our first reaction is to point our finger AWAY from ourselves and TOWARD someone else!  This is a product of our society which has become an environment filled with people who do not take personal accountability for their own actions.  We find all kinds of excuses for why we are the way we are or do the things we do.  One of the greatest recipients of this blame is our parents. Parents get the blame for everything a child does.  Although in some cases this may be true, God has something to say about blaming others and personal responsibility. Ezekiel 18 gives us an account of such accusations.  The Israelites were justifying and rationalizing away their own personal responsibility by using a popular proverb at that time, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” They were basically saying that their fathers had acted and all they were doing was reacting to what they did. “We are this way because of our fathers’ sins.” I love God’s answer to their scheming and false opinion.  God says, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.   Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”  God stops that lie dead in its tracks. We may be influenced by others;   however, when it comes down to it, each one of us will answer to God for our self!  We see this in Romans 14:12 where it says, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  We need to rise up and start to take responsibility for our own actions and quit blaming them on everyone else. From this point on, determine that you will take responsibility for your actions. God will be pleased with your attitude and actions when you do! We need to learn to say: It’s my fault Lord, and I’m sorry!