Be Happy, Obey

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

For the most part, each one of is responsible for our own problems. We don’t admit it too often, though. In our culture, we’d rather be victims than to admit we’re at fault. We have a long list of whom to blame: the government, media, parents, politicians, schools, our spouses, the environment, our DNA — anyone and everyone but ourselves. 

It’s time for a wake-up call; to accept personal responsibility and quit blaming others. This is especially true of Christ followers and temptation. Stop blaming others for your temptation and sin. And, you can stop blaming God too! Remember when Adam succumbed to Eve’s invitation to eat of the forbidden? He didn’t have to eat it. But when he spoke to God, Adam accused Him for his personal sinfulness. He said, “The woman YOU gave me caused this thing!” [Genesis 3.12]. The implication is that if God hadn’t done what He did, Adam wouldn’t have done what he did. That’s nonsense, pure and simple.

Our sin is derived from disobedience to what God wants from us. When we obey God’s word, we find ourselves the happiest. Trust me on this one, if God says not to do something in the Bible, He will never say, “Yes” to you through feelings. Don’t go there; it’s a trap!

Is God a killjoy? Certainly not! You’ve read the Beatitudes each of which start out with “Blessed.” One of the main ideas behind the Greek word, makarios, is HAPPY!

The happiest people I know are Christ followers who hang on every word that God said in the Bible and follow it, regardless of what their feelings say.

We are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires. Then our evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1.14-15