The Blame Game
Regular season baseball comes to an end this weekend. The playoffs begin next Tuesday. For the first time since 2017 my favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, will not be in the postseason. To read the comments of so-called Braves’ fans online you would think that this team is the worst team in the history of professional sports. Never mind that the Colorado Rockies are probably not going to win 50 games this year. Three NFL teams have gone winless. And the Philadelphia 76ers once won only 9 of 82 games in a season.
The truth is that Braves fans have been spoiled through the last 35 years. They have been in the playoffs 24 times, the World Series six times, and they have won it all twice. When you consider that, prior to that, they had been in the playoffs five times in their previous history (including when in Boston and Milwaukee), and had won the World Series only two times, they have been on a remarkable streak.
And this year’s team has plenty of reasons for their demise, the major one being injuries. All of their starting pitchers, without exception, have spent considerable time on the injured list. When all six of your starters have missed more than 50 games each, it is going to be hard to win.
Still, most of the players and coaches would say that they don’t want to talk about excuses. They hold themselves accountable. They are dissatisfied with the season, and they certainly hope to do better next year.
Do you make excuses for your failures to obey the Lord? Do you blame others? If you will remember, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent for their sin. And we tend to do the same. The truth is that the Lord has said to us, “If we will confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God wants us to be accountable. He wants us to confess our need for Him. He stands ready to forgive. Don’t blame others when you fall. Admit your need, and trust in the Lord. His grace is enough.
