WEDNESDAYS DEVOTION :)

[Guest guest]

FROM: THE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE DEVOTIONAL

BY ROBERT S. MCGEE

ASSIGNING BLAME

AND SO, AS THOSE WHO HAVE

BEEN CHOSEN OF GOD, HOLY

AND BELOVED, PUT ON A HEART

OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS,

HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND

PATIENCE; BEARING WITH ONE

ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING EACH

OTHER, WHOEVER HAS A

COMPLAINT AGAINST ANYONE,

JUST AS THE LORD FORGAVE

YOU, SO ALSO SHOULD YOU.

________________COLOSSIANS 3:12-13

WHETHER CONSCIOUSLY OR UNCONSCIOUSLY, WE ALL TEND TO POINT AN

ACCUSING FINGER, ASSIGNING BLAME FOR VIRTUALLY EVERY FAILURE. WHENEVER

WE FAIL TO RECEIVE APPROVAL FOR OUR PERFORMANCE, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEARCH

FOR A REASON, A CULPRIT, A SCAPEGOAT. MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WE CAN FIND

NO ONE BUT OURSELVES TO BLAME, SO THE ACCUSING FINGER POINTS RIGHT BACK

AT US. SELF-CONDEMNATION IS A SEVERE FORM OF PUNISHMENT.

IF POSSIBLE, WE WILL OFTEN TRY TO PLACE THE BLAME ON OTHERS AND

FULFILL THE LAW OF RETRIBUTION---THAT PEOPLE SHOULD GET WHAT THEY

DESERVE. FOR MOST OF OUR LIVES, WE HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO MAKE SOMEONE

PAY FOR FAILURES OR SHORTCOMINGS. WHEN WE MISS A DEADLINE AT WORK

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T USE OUR TIME WISELY AND DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT, WE TRY

TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE THE BLAME. WHEN A PROBLEM IS PARTLY OUR

FAULT AND PARTLY SOMEONE ELSE'S, WE OFTEN ARE QUICK TO MENTION THE OTHER

PERSON'S CULPABILITY.

FOR EVERY FLAW WE SEE AROUND US, WE OFTEN SEARCH FOR SOMEONE TO

BLAME. SOME OF US INTERNALIZE, BLAMING OURSELVES FOR EVERYTHING AND

ANYTHING THAT ANYBODY DID WRONG. OTHERS EXTERNALIZE THE BLAME, HOPING TO

EXONERATE OURSELVES BY MAKING SURE OTHERS ARE IDENTIFIED AS " GUILTY " AND

PUNISHED.

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DOES CONDEMNING YOURSELF HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER PERSON? WHY, OR WHY

NOT?

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HEAVENLY FATHER, TODAY I WILL TRY NOT TO BE SO HARD ON MYSELF AND

OTHERS. AS I LOOK TO YOU FOR A MODEL OF COMPASSION, PLEASE SHOW ME . .

.. .

GENTLEHUGS AND PRAYERS

SAM