I’ve been stealing from God…

You know the story in Mark 12:1–12.

A man builds a vineyard from scratch. Fence. Tower. Winepress. Investment. Vision. Ownership.

He leases it out. Harvest comes. He sends servants to collect what is rightfully his.

They beat one. Bloody another. Kill another.

Finally, he sends his son. They drag him outside the vineyard…and murder him.

Every time I read that parable, I thought: How wicked can you be?

But this morning something shifted. I saw my face in theirs.

God planted the vineyard of my life. He gave me breath, mind, influence, spiritual gifts. And when He comes asking for fruit?

Sometimes I give leftovers. Sometimes I delay. Sometimes I ignore the knock entirely.

No, I haven’t killed prophets. But I have killed conviction.

I have silenced obedience. I have choked out generosity. I have withheld what was never mine to keep.

That’s rebellion.

This hit me hard. Because the vine-dressers didn’t just reject the servants — they wanted control of what didn’t belong to them.

And if I’m honest? So do I.

So here’s my crossroads:

I can defend myself. Excuse myself. Minimize it.

Or I can repent.

Today, I’m choosing repentance.

The vineyard is His. The harvest is His. The Son is His. And so am I.

Will you try to keep what isn't yours today or give God what is rightfully His?

#devotional #christian #Mark12

Recent Posts