OUR DAILY BREAD                      Friday, December 16, 1994
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READ:  Ezekiel 18:1-22

                   WHO'S TO BLAME?

            "The soul who sins shall die."

                   - Ezekiel 18:4

A popular concept today is the idea that individuals
can't be blamed for what they do or fail to do.
Blame heredity or environment or parents or teachers
or the government, but don't blame the individual himself.

For example, a fired Northwestern University professor
was arrested for collecting his mother's social security
checks for 6 years after her death.  He blamed "extreme
procrastination behavior" caused by depression.

God's Word gives the lie to this kind of blame-shifting
and stresses personal responsibility.  The Israelites
had a popular proverb that stated, "The fathers have
eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on
edge" (Ezek. 18:2).  But the Lord told Ezekiel not to
use this proverb.  Instead, He said that everyone was
accountable for his own sin and responsible to turn
from it (vv. 20-22).

Scripture teaches that we are not irresponsible victims
of circumstances.  We will answer to the all-knowing
Judge for any behavior that violates His holy law.  Our
only hope is to confess that we deserve God's eternal
condemnation and to put our trust in Jesus Christ as
our substitute.  Then we can be assured that there is
"no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus"
(Rom 8:1).

    -- Vernon C. Grounds

 By Christ, the sinless Lamb of God,
   The precious blood was shed,
 When He fulfilled God's holy Word
    And suffered in our stead.

    -- Anon.

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       THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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     To escape God's judgment,
we must first admit we deserve it.

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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Peter 3-5
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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of
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