Bob got a ticket for speeding.  He didn’t say anything to the trooper when he was pulled over, but for the next hour of driving, he was consumed with the thought that the fault lay in his parents.

He reasoned that he learned how to speed by watching what his parents did when he was a child.  Somehow his brain got stuck on fast.  Oh yeah, that’ll take the ticket away.

There may be some truth to what he thinks.  But in the end, he was the one driving when he got pulled over.

And there’s another issue about Bob that everybody ought to know.  See, Bob’s a Christian.  And by that fact he ought to be an exemplary driver.  And by that fact he ought to take immediate responsibility for his own mistakes.

But Bob is not unique in this problem of blaming others.  A whole lot of his brothers and sisters in Christ do the same thing 24 /7.  Give Bob some time, he’ll remember that, and blame them too. 

But Bob has no reason to point his finger at anyone.  Especially because of something so avoidable as a traffic ticket.

I mean, I can understand why somebody would blame the rapists for the fear they have as they walk down the street.  Or maybe they can put some blame on their mistakes at work because they didn’t sleep well, do to nightmares.  But there’s a difference between emotion and action.  There’s a difference between involuntary fear due to trauma, and embracing bad habits.

There are two reasons why Bob can’t blame his parents.  The first is obvious.  His body is his own, and he can make choices with his own mind.  In that case, it’s absolutely ridiculous to blame someone else for bad habits.

The other part of about a christian blaming others, that shows a red flag of fault, is that the Christian is the one who can receive forgiveness for his sins.  Sure, you’ll take your lumps now and then, while you’re here.  We all get stupid now and then.  But in the end, you walk away unscathed.

Why would anyone with those two vast riches, look to blame someone else for their problems? 

There is one more article of consideration in regard to all this.  There is glory to give to the Lord when we simply endure without complaining, grumbling or blame.  We take it on the chin for the glory of Christ.

I heard that a man said in his prayers regularly, “Heavenly Father please hold no one accountable for any sins against me.  It is impossible that anyone should sin against me.  I am not the standard of holiness.”

What kind of people would we be if we just take our lumps on the head and move on?  The word “holy” comes to mind.