Famed American humorist, Odgen Nash...
Illustration
Famed American humorist, Odgen Nash, quipped, "Why did the Lord give us so much quickness of motion unless it was to avoid responsibility?" Like Adam fleeing from God in the Garden, like Moses calling on Smokey the Bear in his soul to douse the ineffable fiery flames of the burning bush, each of us at times seeks to pass the buck of individual responsibility to someone or something else.
Ezekiel, called the John Calvin of Old Testament Prophets, will listen to none of our excuses for our sins and betrayals of God. Instead of putting the blame on Mame he forces us to put the blame on our own willful disobedience. We are all prodigals who had fled our Father in the far country of self.
Dennis the Menace spoke words of comfort to his pal, Joey, when he told the tyke to stop worrying about his ascent on the escalator. "Look, Joey," advised Dennis, "just stand still and the steps will walk you."
As we confess our sins before our forgiving Father, we experience his lifting of our burdens and, like Joey, ascend into a new level of loving service.
Ezekiel, called the John Calvin of Old Testament Prophets, will listen to none of our excuses for our sins and betrayals of God. Instead of putting the blame on Mame he forces us to put the blame on our own willful disobedience. We are all prodigals who had fled our Father in the far country of self.
Dennis the Menace spoke words of comfort to his pal, Joey, when he told the tyke to stop worrying about his ascent on the escalator. "Look, Joey," advised Dennis, "just stand still and the steps will walk you."
As we confess our sins before our forgiving Father, we experience his lifting of our burdens and, like Joey, ascend into a new level of loving service.
