Wrapped up our 3 week series on generosity entitled, “Genome.” What a thrill to see literally hundreds take the challenge issued by God in Malachi 3. I’m even more pumped realizing how this thing will end for all of them—God is always faithful!
How bizarre it is that so many “Christians” ignore a valid challenge from the Lord and take one He never offered instead? The one He offered is found in Malachi 3:10, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” But the one literally millions of American evangelicals take is found in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” No challenge here—just the simple facts. Jesus is actually warning us in this text. But what do a lot of us end up doing? Spending our lives trying to prove Him wrong! We try to remodel the throne of our hearts to accommodate two instead of one. We invite Jesus into our heart to be our Savior but inform Him by our lifestyle that He’ll never be Lord and King. We tell Him in no uncertain terms by the choices we make that He’ll have to room and board with money on that throne originally built for one. Jesus says it’s impossible but millions spend their lives desperately trying to see if they can make it work—two gods. I wonder how many realize near the end of their days that they spent their entire lives serving one after all?—the wrong one.
Really excited about the next two weeks—we return to teaching through a book of the Bible—one I have been stunned to see so many preachers avoid like the plague. It’s a short little deal—so that can’t be the reason. It’s in the New Testament—usually the first choice of 99 out of 100 preachers, so that ain’t it either. But for some reason, there’s next to nothing out there on the book of Jude. I find that especially bizarre in light of the fact that Jude was Jesus’ half brother—we should be clambering to read what the half brother of Jesus had to say! But NOPE—no clambering—just an eerie silence. And guess what? I think I know why. So join us over the next 2 weeks as we begin the mini-series through the one chapter book of Jude entitled, “Hey, Jude.”
Hey Southbrook? Have I told you lately that I love you? I do! I really do! Have a great one!