Key Thought

The word repent carries with it all sorts of images, depending upon one's background. Jesus is concerned that we understand one central concept with the word -- turn around! He wants each of us to realize that living life as we think best, as seems best to us, is a disaster. We need to turn around and let him set our values, direction, and lifestyle. Each of us, left to our own best choices, is going to ultimately fail. So we need to repent -- to change our hearts and lives, turn around, and go in his direction.

Today's Prayer

Get WJD by EMAIL!

Enter your email address above to subscribe to the email edition of What Jesus Did! Follow along FREE every day as we go through Luke in a year. More Info on Mailing Lists

Father, I find myself sometimes full of pride and self-confidence that I can determine the best way and the best direction for my life. Yet, dear Father, I recognize that unless I turn around and follow Jesus, my life is ultimately headed for destruction. Today, dear Father, I re-commit to begin each new day with a passion to live for you, guided by your Spirit, and living with Jesus as my Lord. I know that many of my activities may not be significantly different, but I do know that the purpose in them will be different. I know that other things that I have chosen to do in the past, I will not do because they do not honor you or reveal your character in me. Bless me as I seek to live for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

At that time some people were there with Jesus. These people told Jesus about what happened to some people from Galilee. Pilate killed those people while they were worshiping. Pilate mixed their blood with the blood of the animals they were sacrificing {to God}. Jesus answered, "Do you think this happened to those people because they were more sinful than all other people from Galilee? No, they were not! But if all of you don't change your hearts and lives, then you will be destroyed like those people were! What about those 18 people that died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think those people were more sinful than all the people that live in Jerusalem? They were not! But I tell you if you don't change your hearts and lives, then you will all be destroyed too!" Jesus told this story: "A man had a fig tree. He planted the tree in his garden. The man came looking for some fruit on the tree, but he found none. The man had a servant that took care of his garden. So the man said to his servant, 'I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never find any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the ground?' But the servant answered, 'Master, let the tree have one more year to make fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and put on some plant food. Maybe the tree will make fruit next year. If the tree still does not make fruit, then you can cut it down.'"

— Luke 13:1-9 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.