Week of June 4 - June 9

Sunday
growing deeply
MONDAY: Luke 13:1-5; 10-13 Cause and Effect
A great debate often occurs over the question of whether or not God causes things to “Pivotal Circumstances”- June 3
happen in our lives or responds with love and direction when they do.
REFLECTION: Reflect on a time when your life was touched by an unexpected event. Scripture: Luke 13:1-5 (NLT)
Reflect on how your response might have varied depending upon your understanding of
God’s connection to your life. About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people
from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think
TUESDAY: Luke 13:1-5; 10-13 What is Sin? those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?”
The best explanation of sin is rooted in the understanding that sin is anything that Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too,
comes between us and a perfect relationship with God. A general Old Testament unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen
understanding says that bad things happen to sinful people. people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst
QUESTIONS: Consider your understanding of sin and reflect on these questions: Do sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will
I wonder what I have done wrong when something bad happens? Do I wonder what perish, too.”
others have done wrong when bad things happen to them?

WEDNESDAY: Luke 13:1-5; 10-13 Punishment for Sin
In this passage, Jesus asks a very pointed question: “Do you think those Galileans were
worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee? Is that why they suffered?”
REFLECTION: Jesus answers his question by saying, “Not at all!” Reflect on that
answer and reconcile it with your personal understanding of sin.
THURSDAY: Luke 13:1-5; 10-13 Faith or Answers
Sometimes there are no helpful answers to the questions we have about life and our
life circumstances. Always, faith is the key to helping us walk through troubled times.
REFLECTION: Reflect on a circumstance in your life in which you sought answers. How
did or could faith carry you through?
Scripture: Luke 13:10-13 (NLT)
One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who
had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen
years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called
her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he
touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
MY NOTES:

FRIDAY: Luke 13:1-5; 10-13 There is Never a Wrong Time to Heal

The religious law in the days of Jesus forbid any type of work on the Sabbath,
including healing. Jesus realized that the need of the crippled woman was greater
than the parameters of the law.
CONSIDER: Consider the story of the woman healed on the Sabbath. How could this
circumstance change not only her physical life but also her perspective on life? How
could the perspectives of the lives of the on-lookers been changed?

SATURDAY: Luke 13:1-5; 10-13 Forward Movement

When life-changing events occur both positive and negative, we are challenged to
move forward in our actions, our thoughts, our faith.
PRAYER: God of healing, you touch not only the needs of our bodies, but the needs of
our hearts, minds, and spirits as well. Help us to reach out in faith when life-changing
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events occur and place our trust in you.
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