Blogger’s Note: Since this devotional came on my birthday, I think God was pointedly directing His Spirit-led wisdom to me this morning. But maybe some of you can identify as well.
Study from God’s Word… Romans, Chapters 9 - 11 … Passage for Reflection: Romans 9: 19 … NIV One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist His will?”
My Journal for Today: Paul’s pointed rhetorical question [in today’s text], directed to Jewish Christians questioning God for allowing Gentiles into God’s family, points to one of the most intriguing of all Christian conundrums. And that is this: If God is sovereign, and He is; then how can I be blamed for my sinfulness when HE created me this way?
As Dr. Smith points out today, anyone, very naturally, who is accused of something they did not do, will retort: “Hey, it’s not my fault; why blame me?” And that is behind our wondering why God holds me accountable for my sin when He created me, a sinner. What’s up with that anyway?
And the answer is that, like Adam and Eve, God did create me; but, also like Adam & Eve, God didn’t create me to sin. He created me to glorify Him by choosing not to sin when He created me with the free-will to choose His way or my own. Do you get it?
It’s not God’s will that we became evil because of Adam’s (and Eve’s) sin. No, He created me to glorify Him by choosing His will and His way of doing life; and to avoid my own. And being sovereign, God is the potter; and He can form me any way HE sees fit. And if I happen to have certain predispositions to sinful living or choices, that’s simply the way I was created. And some are created in such a way that sinful living or choices come much easier than it does for others.
And so, should we, sinful creatures, harangue at God, saying, “God, why did you make me this way?” Or should we say, “Lord, show me how, given the way You made me, I can glorify you by living the way You have willed all mankind to live?” I think the latter is the better option, don’t you?
So, if we have a “thorn,” which God created us to have or allowed Satan to give us (perhaps unwanted same-sex desires, or an ‘addiction’ to pornography, or gluttonous eating desires), it might be wise for us to go back and meditate on Romans 7: 14-23 and/or 2nd Cor. 12: 7-10, where Paul described his own weaknesses and fleshly hang-ups; and where he wants us all to see that no matter how we were made and whatever weaknesses we have, “God’s grace is sufficient” for us to rise above our recognized weaknesses or proclivities and honor God with our Spirit-led and Spirit-directed choices to overcome our selves and honor God with our free will.
Chew on that one for awhile, my friends, especially any of you who are feeling like God is giving you an unfair disadvantage by the way He made you. We need to get over it [i.e., the self pity] , my loved ones; and get on with God’s plan for our lives.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, forgive me if I’ve ever blamed You for the way I am or the way I choose to sin against Your will. Amen
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