Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

---

Read

Romans 2:1-11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.” Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

---

Reflect

There is a song by the band Relient K called I So Hate Consequences, the chorus of the song goes,
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
Consequences
God, don’t make me face up to this
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is
Cause I know that I let you down
And I don’t want to deal with that

This song has always resonated with me. Our faith journey is messy if we are honest with ourselves; there are times we choose to not confess because we don’t want to face our brokenness. But this is a part of what it means to be human and it’s a big part of understanding the grace of God. By not owning up to our sin, we are harming ourselves even more than if we just admitted our sin and sought the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

We all know the adage you reap what you sow, we also reap what goes unsown as well. May we choose to be honest about who we are and accept the consequences.

---

Pray

Forgiving and mercifully God, you know we are weak and fallen. Help us to face the fact we at times miss the mark. Help us to be honest and forthright with you. And as we open ourselves up realize that you love us just the same when we fail you and when we honor you. Guide us back to your grace-filled love. Amen.

Go with God!