Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, May 23, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Stop trying so hard. Or so Paul seems to be saying. I get it. I have, on many occasions, found myself resentful when I feel that I’m the one following all the rules and being a “good person” and it’s the people around me who win recognition or receive financial windfalls or meet that special someone. It’s not even about whether those other people are following the rules, too. It’s just about me wanting some kind of cosmic compensation for my efforts. And that’s not how life—or God—works. God gifts me with incredible things on the regular without my having to earn them. The question is whether I’m paying attention. Whether I’m leaning into my faith that God delivers on God’s promises “just because.” When I do that, I often find I get way more than I need in every area of my life.
What do I do when I find myself envious of others’ good fortune?
