Monday Devo

Read Luke 13:1-9. These verses reveal some wrong thinking that is typical of all humanity about God's justice and also it reveals God's incredible mercy and patience. These events mentioned make this passage almost feel like reading a tabloid in Jerusalem. We have a politician accused of killing some Galileans who got in his way. And a mysterious tower that fell in Silaom killing 18 people.

v. 1 "at that time" This refers to the previous chapters where Jesus was mentioning all the end time preparation that needs to be made.

v. 2 "do you think" It seems those telling Jesus of these events thought that those Pilate killed in a barbaric way were worse sinners than others. It is typical to see those who die horrible deaths to think God must be more angry at them. "I tell you no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

v. 4 "do you think" These two events contrast in that what Pilate did was clearly an act of an evil man but the tower falling could be viewed as God's judgment. Jesus again points out that those who died are not worse sinners.

Many continue to sin because they haven't been judged or they see another doing the same sin who God didn't strike dead so it must be o.k. For example I know a guy who decided to move in with his girl-friend. When his father confronted him on this sinful lifestyle the young man's response was, "my brother did it and he's doing fine." Don't assume just because God doesn't strike someone down immediately for a sin that what they're doing is o.k.

The parable of the fig tree is basically just saying that when God has every right to assume that someone isn't going to repent because they have not produce anything good in a long time - He is patient and gives more time. Put these two paragraphs together and basically God is saying, "I love you but please repent before judgment comes. Don't assume that just because you haven't been judged yet that the way you're will land you were you want to be eternally."

This passage makes me stop and think about my own sin. Have I ever started a sin that I saw others doing and getting away with? Have I ever told myself, "They weren't judged so I won't be." Because after time of doing a sin we can do it so long we don't realize we're doing it any more. That is the danger of God not punishing us immediately. Like a child who doesn't get disciplined right away - they might just continue to disobey and with no correction forget they're disobeying. 

questions

1) Have you ever thought that God might be judging someone's sin more harshly than another by how the pain or death they experienced?

2) How does God show patience and love towards those stuck in sin? How should we treat those stuck in sin?

3) Could there be any sin we have justified in our own life by saying, "I know some other Christian who did/does that and they seem to be doing fine"?

Father we want to pause here and let you speak into our hearts. In the spirit of Psalms 139 we ask you to search us and to know us - is there any sinful way in us. Holy Spirit would you reveal to me any sin hidden in my heart that I may have been justifying for a long time and don't even realize is there. An attitude, action, thought, or desire. Bring it to my mind Holy Spirit. (take 5 minutes to listen - go through you life in your mind let the Holy Spirit point out anything that shouldn't be there.)

If you discover something pray: I confess I have ____________. Lord I repent of this sin and ask your forgiveness. Fill me with your Holy Spirit today as I walk with you.