Chisel Day 8: The Devil Made Me Do It

God: “You’re funny.”
Tommy: “You made me that way!”
God: “I also made the platypus…”


In the early 70’s, a comedian named Flip Wilson hosted his own variety show.  He would play this character named “Geraldine” who would find herself in all sorts of messes and situations.  She would begin to explain how it all happened, but if pressed,  her go-to-response was “the devil made me do it!”

Human nature since the fall of Adam and Eve is to look for a scapegoat. There’s got to be someone or something to take the blame or fall for our mistakes and failures.  Don’t believe me?  Try calling one of your kids out and see if they don’t respond, “well HE made me do it!”  As Christians,  we are a lot like Geraldine and Tommy.  Depending on the situation we either blame the devil or we often blame God for our shortcomings: The devil was attacking me or God created me this way.

My friend,  when we consider the truth of Ephesians 2:10,  we discover that God is making us into what we ought to be.  Yet, even though he is making us…he never makes us.   Meaning,  he is shaping you, but the Holy Spirit is a gentleman who will never force himself upon you. Until the day of eternal judgment when every knee shall bow, the choices of every moment are completely in your control.  No one and nothing is making you do anything.

Your attitude on this Monday is completely your choice.  Your focus today is completely in your hands.  Every decision you make today will be within your own power and consciousness.  God wants to make you into the likeness of his Son, but you will have to willingly hand him the chisel.  Today, let’s escape the blame game and make the most of every moment. Realize that no matter our past, baggage, family situation, or social context,  God wants to make us…but he’ll never MAKE us. 


Say it with me:
Anything good in me, God did it.
Anything else,  I did it.


​