Monday, March 16 – “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.” (Luke 12:51) These are the words of Jesus. He’s simply being real. Jesus knows that not everyone is going to believe in him. Thus, there will be division between those who believe and those who don’t. This isn’t a call to go out and look for that division. This call is to simply live as a follower of Jesus and be prepared for division. It’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Tuesday, March 17 – “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’” (John 9:2) The retribution theory is the belief that if something bad happens to you, it’s the result of you doing something bad. The current term for this theory is karma. But Jesus doesn’t teach karma or a retribution theory. Jesus teaches that it’s not about what’s happened. It’s about what God can do with what’s happened. In other words, Jesus teaches that it’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Wednesday, March 18 – “They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.’” (Genesis 42:21) Yes, there are consequences for every action. And yes, sometimes your consequences are bad, in response to your bad actions. But not every bad action ushers in bad consequences. Some bad actions have really good consequences. And vice versa. It’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Thursday, March 19 – “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) One could read this passage as saying “I deserve forgiveness, because I’ve forgiven others”. The problem is this: None of us can merit forgiveness from God. None of us can do enough to earn God’s forgiveness. Based on our over 1,500 years of biblical experience. So, what say you? Do you believe you can earn forgiveness or that forgiveness is a gift of grace? It’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Friday, March 20 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Luke 13:34) Jesus is only five days away from his crucifixion and he’s still longing for the people to be who God has created them and gifted them to be. Jesus will die to even take away the sins of those who don’t believe in him. It wasn’t his fault, but he made it his problem.
Saturday, March 21 – “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1) Obviously being judgmental has been a human problem for a very long time. We condemn each other, all while proclaiming our personal salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus. A salvation that we can’t earn or merit. A salvation that’s a gift of love. Maybe this one is your fault and also your problem!
Tuesday, March 17 – “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’” (John 9:2) The retribution theory is the belief that if something bad happens to you, it’s the result of you doing something bad. The current term for this theory is karma. But Jesus doesn’t teach karma or a retribution theory. Jesus teaches that it’s not about what’s happened. It’s about what God can do with what’s happened. In other words, Jesus teaches that it’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Wednesday, March 18 – “They said to one another, ‘Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.’” (Genesis 42:21) Yes, there are consequences for every action. And yes, sometimes your consequences are bad, in response to your bad actions. But not every bad action ushers in bad consequences. Some bad actions have really good consequences. And vice versa. It’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Thursday, March 19 – “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) One could read this passage as saying “I deserve forgiveness, because I’ve forgiven others”. The problem is this: None of us can merit forgiveness from God. None of us can do enough to earn God’s forgiveness. Based on our over 1,500 years of biblical experience. So, what say you? Do you believe you can earn forgiveness or that forgiveness is a gift of grace? It’s not your fault, but it’s your problem.
Friday, March 20 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Luke 13:34) Jesus is only five days away from his crucifixion and he’s still longing for the people to be who God has created them and gifted them to be. Jesus will die to even take away the sins of those who don’t believe in him. It wasn’t his fault, but he made it his problem.
Saturday, March 21 – “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1) Obviously being judgmental has been a human problem for a very long time. We condemn each other, all while proclaiming our personal salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus. A salvation that we can’t earn or merit. A salvation that’s a gift of love. Maybe this one is your fault and also your problem!
You try to eat right. You drink plenty of water. you exercise. don't forget your spirit - feed it!
daily devotions
