06/02/2026
Tuesday Devotional from Sunday's message
— Don’t Waste the Warning
Scripture
“Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.” — Luke 13:2–3 NLT
Devotion
When tragedy happens, it often raises questions.
Why did this happen?
Who is to blame?
Were they worse than others?
What does this mean?
In Luke 13, people came to Jesus with news of a terrible tragedy. But instead of letting them speculate about the guilt of others, Jesus turned the conversation inward.
He did not say, “Let’s talk about them.”
He said, in effect, “Let’s talk about you.”
That is not because Jesus lacked compassion. It is because He knew how easy it is for us to analyze someone else’s life while ignoring the condition of our own hearts.
Tragedy should not make us proud, judgmental, or speculative. It should make us humble, awake, and repentant.
Jesus’ warning was not cruel. It was merciful. He was calling people to stop assuming they had plenty of time and start responding to God while they still could.
The point is not that every tragedy is a direct punishment for a specific sin. Jesus rejects that kind of simplistic thinking. But He does teach us that every tragedy reminds us that life is fragile, eternity is real, and repentance should not be delayed.
When a warning comes, do not waste it.
Let it wake you up.
Today’s Question
Is there anything God has been using to get my attention that I have been ignoring?
Prayer
Lord, help me not to look at others with pride or judgment while ignoring my own need for repentance. Use Your Word to wake me up, soften my heart, and draw me closer to You. Amen.
Closing Thought
A warning is not the absence of mercy. Sometimes the warning is mercy.