Genesis 19, Matthew 10

Thursday, Dec 20, 2007 - Brandon Hatmaker (Genesis 19, Matthew 10)

“Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them." – Gen 19:4-5

Can you believe that?

I’m stunned by the condition of the world reflected in Genesis 19. The corruption, the selfishness, the immorality. I’m mostly stunned by how the men of Sodom would approach those sent of God with such confidence and angst. There was a complete lack of respect for the Lord, a complete lack of reverence or fear, a complete absence of anything good. And judgment came.

I can’t help but think about moments in my life where there was a complete lack of respect for the Lord. It happens. Not on this scale, but we’ve all had moments in which we have looked God’s instructions right in the face and said, “no thanks, I’ll do It my way”. It’s amazing to me how when we do something like that, that we forget that we are acting against the lord. That’s when the real problems set in, when we think that our sin only impact us and is a personal thing. It’s not. Our sin is always against God, and sometimes, against others. Maybe we should stop focusing primarily on the “what” or “how” we are doing things and focus more on the who we are doing it for or against. That might change our perspective. While it is true that God poured out all his anger on the cross, and the price for our sin was paid, there will still be judgment.

I can’t help but think the had the men of Sodom REALLY known who they were talking with, their attitude would have been changed. What about us?

God, may we live our lives in the hope and fear of your judgment alone. That we might stand before you and hear you say, “well done.”

(Matthew 10)

Matthew 10 holds one of my favorite verses in the Bible. It’s really a simple verse, that I feel communicates so much. Verse 25 says, “It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”

The Greek word for “enough” translates directly to mean “sufficient”.

In our faith, we seek the “deeper” answers and truths all the time. We have this natural bent to find the hidden nugget under the rock. We try to do so much for God to prove our worthiness or at least show our thanksgiving to him. And verse 25 says, if we are his disciple, it’s sufficient to be like our teacher. Why is it so difficult to rest in this truth at times? Why do we complicate things? The ways of Jesus are profound. They are so much more than I studied in Sunday school growing up. They resonate so much more with my spirit as a believer. They are what make me hunger and thirst for more.

Father, help us to learn and live the ways of Jesus. May we rest in the knowledge and truth that to be like him is truly sufficient in your eyes.