Maybe God Did It

This morning I looked out on my front lawn to see one of my bowls in the middle of my grass. I knew that Kennedy had disobeyed after leaving it out there, so I went to confront her about it.

“Kennedy, do you know why mommy’s bowl is in the front lawn?”

Kennedy looked around, completely dumbfounded by the accusation. She looked up at me with her big green eyes and said, “Maybe God did it.”

Oh, I can see it now. God himself, standing on my porch, chucking my bowl out into the grass. I don’t think so.

I laughed at her quick wit, but I think she nailed a reality that many people live in. We look at the results of our own disobedience and say, “Maybe God did it.” We somehow think that giving God credit for our bad choices will alleviate someone’s disapproval or force us to correct the error.

Here’s an example that comes to mind. I’ve got a friend that dislikes her church, speaks her disapproval often, condemns her pastors, and then says that “God hasn’t released me, yet.” Hmmmm….who left the bowl on the lawn? Because they “feel” that God has them at that church, they justify speaking ill of God’s house and it’s leaders. Interesting way to look at it. Seems like if God really has you at that church, you better “pick up the bowl” and stop complaining. You can’t have it both ways!

(This is free: if you hate your church, God has released you. Or better yet, your pastor probably doesn’t want you there anyway, so he’ll be glad to release you on God’s behalf. Just sayin.)

Unfortunately, I’m as guilty as the next person. It’s easy to get caught up in our own emotions, act poorly, and look around for a scapegoat. The problem is that God will never be a scapegoat. My prayer for my own heart, and for yours today, is that we take responsibility for our stuff and allow God to be what He is…mighty, powerful, in control, sinless, awesome, holy, righteous, the beginning, the end, Savior, healer, provider…need I go on?