Playing the Blame Game

One of the most important features of maturity is the quality of character that accepts personal failure instead of blaming others or some inanimate object. When a marriage fails, a predictable response is to blame a former spouse, relatives or anyone who interfered with the peace and stability of the marriage.

 
 

Each person must ask, "What did I fail to do or deliberately do that caused the relationship to fail?" When Samson’s marriage failed, his response was to seek revenge. Sorrows overshadowed by rage prevented him from taking responsibility for the failed marriage. Passion for revenge and false pride concealed his immaturity.  

Getting even with those he blamed for his humiliation clearly defined his mental and spiritual state. When anger reaches this intensity, listening to rational voices from God and others is essential. Should this be your experience, go to God's word or perhaps a Christian counselor for understanding and wisdom. Force yourself to apply the alternatives to anger and hate that you will discover.  

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For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

~Galatians 6:5 New Living Translation

 

If you don’t confess your sins, you will be a failure. But God will be merciful if you confess your sins and give them up. The Lord blesses everyone who is afraid to do evil, but if you are cruel, you will end up in trouble.

~Proverbs 28:13-14 Contemporary English Version

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, inspired by the devil. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others.

~James 3:15,17 The Living Bible

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Follow God's Searchlight: Your Conscience - Part 2

Hermann Goering, commandant of the German Air Force in World War II, proclaimed: “I have no conscience. My conscience is Adolph Hitler.” Goering committed suicide after being found guilty of war crimes at Nuremberg. Goering’s testimony demonstrates the danger of invalidating the conscience and sinking into depravity.

While it’s important to have a mentor or leader whom we can respect and who serves as a point of light, no human being should be allowed to become your conscience. Blindly trusting another person to have all the right answers and always to have your complete respect eventually disappoints, for no person is perfect enough to substitute for your conscience.

A person who obeys his or her conscience will be blessed and rewarded by God himself, as David experienced in 1 Samuel 24. Here David listened to and obeyed his conscience. David knew God’s will and purpose and that choosing to follow God’s plan would result in receiving God’s blessings and a clear conscience. This can be your choice.  

Follow God's Searchlight: Your Conscience - Part 1

God desires for each person to recognize him as supreme Creator, who graciously sent Jesus to be our Savior and Lord. He intends for us to repent of our sins and accept Jesus as Lord of our lives. God also desires for each person to live up to his or her potential for making the world a better place to live.

There are barriers that prevent us from realizing our potential and enjoying the rewards God desires to give us. Our conscience puts up roadblocks where there is unresolved guilt indicative of attitudes and choices unbecoming of a believer in God’s grace and mercy. Failure to live up to our potential indicates poverty of mind and spirit.

A relationship exists between realizing your potential and the confidence your conscience sanctions. Real confidence comes from allowing Christ Jesus to have a prominent place in your life. Then by God’s grace and mercy your conscience is free of guilt and shame, and you can live a life pleasing to God.