Learn to Take Appropriate Responsibility

He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan!” Mark 8:33 When we sin, there is always a story of how we came to do what we did. Someone says, “This person put me in an impossible position. I was provoked, and that is why I acted as I did.” When Eve was tempted and committed the first sin, she said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gen. 3:13). The serpent was responsible for the deceiving; but Eve was responsible for the eating. And God dealt with both according to their responsibility. Satan tempted Jesus through the well-meaning words of His friend, and when Jesus recognised the activity of Satan, He rebuked Peter. But Jesus also held Peter accountable for what he said and did. God is just. The judge of all the earth will hold others accountable for what they did and for the effect it had on you. Nonetheless, God will hold you accountable for what you said and did. It is easy to put the blame on others who played some role in causing you to sin. God will deal with them for what they did. Your part is to take responsibility for what is yours. Notice Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mark 8:33). Peter was in front of Jesus, and Jesus commanded Satan to get behind Him. If Peter were here today, he might say, “At first I thought Jesus was telling me to get behind Him. He’s done with me. He never wants to see me again.” “Then I realised, He didn’t say, ‘Get behind me, Peter.’ Satan was the one who had to move, and my choice was simple: cling to Satan and separate from Jesus or cling to Jesus and separate from Satan. Jesus put Himself between me and the enemy. And in removing Satan, He restored me.” Is there a sin in your life you’ve been blaming on others? Written by Colin Smith Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk