God is not to Blame

Daily Scripture Threshing for Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Today’s Text: James 1:1 12-18

Key Verse: James 1:13 (ESV): “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”

Perhaps, today’s meditation brings the Ola Rotimi’s 1971 novel, The gods are not to Blame (an adaptation of the Greek classic Oedipus Rex) to mind. We all like to blame God for our life issues. We always point accusing finger to Him either in words or thoughts. We hold God responsible as the cause, causer or permitter of all negativity including our own errors, foolishness, failures and fallings. Do you ever say things like: “God, are you doing this to me?!” Or, Lord, why did you allow this in my life; or why did you not prevent this from happening to me? You are not alone.

Blaming God is man’s common response especially when life seems not to go the way we expect. Part of why we do that is our concept of God as the only true reality and sole source of all things. So, we get angry at God and blamed Him for causing or allowing negative or unexpected things to happen to us. But, the Bible offers us examples of faithful men of like passions as we—such as Job, Abraham and David—who went through severe trials and tribulations like us, but did not blame God.

James, a half brother of Jesus Christ, being one of the sons of Joseph and Mary, and one who watched the love of God expressed for humanity through the pain and suffering of his brother, Jesus Christ, vindicates or exonerates God in this text. According to him, God in all His nature, character and actions is never accessary to any of man’s failings. He says, “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (vs 14). James charges us to own our decisions and consequences. He warns that our “desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.” (vs 15). By this, even our tempter, the devil has no power to force his way through the barriers of our self will if we don’t oblige him a foothold in our lives. That’s why in his chapter 4 verse 7, he (James) exhorts us to resist or strive against him and he will run away from us.

Quote for the Day: “The devil has no power to force his way through the barriers of our self will if we don’t oblige him a foothold.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer:  Dear Lord, please forgive me wherever angle of my life I have not allowed You to use me as You desire. I quit excuses and blame-games; and embrace Your total Kingdom agenda for my life — in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

With all my Love and Prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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[Daily Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA distributed for free use by individuals, small groups, families, and Christian churches]

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