Devotion: Broken and Contrite

Take a moment to read this weekend’s scripture: Luke 23:39-43

I learned early in my management career, when an employee comes to you and admits they messed up, don’t pile on. Help to fix it and get back to work. Everyone makes mistakes. You have a great employee when they own it, adjust, learn from it and move on.

The harder lesson I had to learn was to just accept the apology and move on. Don’t lecture. Don’t bring it up again. Don’t hold it over them. Just let it be done.

It has always been easier when it’s an honest fess up. The apology that is nearly eyerolling is the apology that isn’t one at all. “Mistakes were made.” “I apologize, but I was under a lot of pressure.” “Looking back I could have done some things differently.” We’ve all heard them and know exactly what they are. Coverups.

It’s human nature to deflect. There’s no better example than your children. They can give you a million reasons before hopefully owning up to it. Bil Keane illustrated that every Sunday in the comics.

Those cartoons somehow never got old, because we, as humans, never stop deflecting. Except a criminal hanging on a cross next to Jesus.

This week’s lesson gives us two criminals. One hurls insults. One owns it. “We are getting what we deserve for our deeds.” No qualifiers. Just plain truth. He doesn’t even ask to be saved. He merely asks to be remembered.

Jesus, in turn, doesn’t lecture him or pile it on. He just tells him that he will be with Him in paradise. Today.

Sound familiar?

Most of us know how to say we’re sorry. What’s more of a challenge is actually believing it.

Maybe the harder question isn’t whether you owe someone an apology. Maybe it’s whether you’ve actually allowed yourself to receive one. From God. Without qualification.
He didn’t say eventually. He didn’t say we’ll see.
He said today.

Dear God,
Forgive me for the times I’ve deflected and the times I’ve doubted your forgiveness. Help me to simply receive it today.
Amen.

Written by Randy Hawthorne

Randy is a connector at his core, with a deep network and a personal mission to level up the people and projects around him. When he turns his attention to something, positive change tends to follow. He enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs, occasionally makes his way to a stage, geeks out on local history and loves a great dining adventure.