The Period of Grace!

Bible Reading: Luke 13:1-9

The people who came to Jesus were troubled about Pilate killing the Galileans who came to worship at the Temple and asked Jesus how God could have allowed such things.  

Jesus answered their question with another question: "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? "(v2).  The answer was apparently no.  

Jesus mentioned a similar incident about the fall of the tower in Siloam, a seemingly natural disaster, and asked them if they thought those who died were worse sinners than the others who escaped.  Again, the answer was no.  

In Hinduism, charity and selfless service are considered essential for a person to be worthy of heaven.  In Buddhism, generosity and compassion play a vital role in an individual's spiritual growth, enabling them to overcome suffering.  Karma, or good deeds, results in the escape from suffering and the attainment of heaven, while evil actions lead to suffering, and this cycle of action and reaction continues across multiple lifetimes.

Due to this kind of thinking, people often assume that all the suffering endured in the world is proportionate to their degree of sinfulness.  It is never so.  The Bible says that sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer.  The life of Job is an excellent example of this. 

In fact, Jesus was saying that the right question to be asked would be, ‘Why have we been spared?’  We should not question the justice of God but rather be amazed by the grace of God.  We should be asking why towers have not fallen on us!  Why have we not been consumed by our troubles but have been spared?

My friend, we have been spared by divine grace, not because we are better than others, but because of God's mercy.  God has granted us another opportunity to live for Him. Let us not waste our God-given lives in petty quarrels and vain worldly pursuits, but repent and recommit ourselves to live a life honouring God.  

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for giving me life.  Please help me to live a life glorifying you.  Amen.