This chapter is the "end times" chapter of Matthew. It is fascinating to me how the chapter begins.
The disciples are fascinated with buildings. Jesus has something else on his mind. Buildings will fall. People last. The eternal destiny of people, according to this chapter, has nothing to do with buildings. It has everything to do with Messiah.
How often I have visited a pastor and the first thing they want to do is show me around the building. That's not bad, but the Kingdom is not about buildings, it's about people.
It is so much more exciting and encouraging to hear stories of what the gospel is doing in the lives of people than to see what buildings are going up. I wonder sometimes if the world believes that we're more interested in buildings than in people. Jesus has called us to be about the Kingdom and the Kingdom is about people. Hear his final challenge on the subject at the end of this chapter.
Father, you have given us buildings, and in many cases they are a part of the story of your amazing provision. But may we never be more enamored with buildings than we are with your gospel. May we never be more interested in our buildings than we are in the community and people you have called us to impact with your gospel. Father, forgive us for our fascination with those things that will not last.
Matthew 24:1-2 NIV
Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."
The disciples are fascinated with buildings. Jesus has something else on his mind. Buildings will fall. People last. The eternal destiny of people, according to this chapter, has nothing to do with buildings. It has everything to do with Messiah.
How often I have visited a pastor and the first thing they want to do is show me around the building. That's not bad, but the Kingdom is not about buildings, it's about people.
Matthew 24:14 NIV
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
It is so much more exciting and encouraging to hear stories of what the gospel is doing in the lives of people than to see what buildings are going up. I wonder sometimes if the world believes that we're more interested in buildings than in people. Jesus has called us to be about the Kingdom and the Kingdom is about people. Hear his final challenge on the subject at the end of this chapter.
Matthew 24:45-46 NIV
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns."
Father, you have given us buildings, and in many cases they are a part of the story of your amazing provision. But may we never be more enamored with buildings than we are with your gospel. May we never be more interested in our buildings than we are in the community and people you have called us to impact with your gospel. Father, forgive us for our fascination with those things that will not last.
Comments
Post a Comment