Who's to Blame?

December 10, 2009

Let's see...
I could blame the boys. After all, they are the ones who were messing around at the top of the steps and knocked the can over - sending it falling into the basement.
Of course, it could be my fault. Since I am the one who put the can there in the first place.
But maybe Elizabeth is to blame. She's the one who invited her small group over - which is why I put the can on the top of the steps, to get it out of the way.
Then again, maybe it's the church's fault. It's because of the huge Christmas outreach that's taking up the entire church building that there's no room for the youth group to meet. Such that they needed to meet off site, which is why Elizabeth invited her small group over to our house. Leading me to put the can at the top of the basement steps, to get it out of the way. So that it was in the way when the boys were messing around and kicked it, and sent it tumbling into the basement.

Er...Wait! Maybe God is the one to blame for this whole mess.

He's the One who sent Jesus to the earth to take the sins of the world upon Himself so that we may be reconciled to God.
Because of what God did through sending Jesus to save us, our church is using up the whole building for this major outreach event - that people may come to a saving knowledge of who He is!
So it's as a result of God's amazing love for us that Elizabeth invited her small group over to our house.
It's because God sent Jesus to teach us about grace and forgiveness, because He sent Jesus to die that we might live, that I put the can of paint at the top of the steps and forgot about it.
And the boys kicked it when they were messing around.
And the carpet going down the steps is ruined.
And the walls are a mess.
And the articles of clothing that were laying on the steps have been thrown away.

Clearly, if God had not sent Jesus to the earth to teach me about grace and forgiveness, there would not be this huge mess going down to my basement.

But now that the paint has dried and I've had some time to think about it, I've realized something wonderful.
That mess on the stairs really doesn't matter.
My heart is messier by far, and Jesus still loves me. And right here - in my face - He's given me an opportunity to practice what He preached: To offer grace and forgiveness in spite of the mess.

How about you? Been trying to figure out who's to blame for the mess around you?
Let's trust in His power at work within us, and offer grace and forgiveness instead.

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