whatcha reading?

Sorry for the absence on the blog recently.  Summer finally caught up with our house in a good way, and we headed out for a vacation to see my wife's family in Seattle.  Just got back this weekend.

But that's not what I wanted to share with you this morning.  Rather, I'd like to ask you:

Whatcha reading?

Sunday mornings for me always involve reading.  In fact, I've got a Sunday morning ritual.  

Up early for set up.  Finish at about 8:00 a.m.  Head over to McDonald's.  Get some breakfast burritos and a Diet Coke.  Hop on some free wifi.  Then, sit and have some devotions with my YouVersion plan.

It's got me in the book Jude today - which (who) is my son's namesake.  Jude - the guy who wrote the 2nd to last book in the New Testament that bears his name - was the half brother of Jesus.  Yep, half brother - he shared a mom with Jesus, but not a dad.  You get it, right? (Hint: think virgin birth.)

Jude is an epistle, like many of the books in the New Testament.  An epistle is an occasional letter, or a letter written to a specific community to address a specific set of circumstances.  Most epistles begin with the author introducing himself.  Often, the author would include in their introduction a subtle reminder to their readers that they had the authority to write what they did - that their words were binding, and demanded action or correction.  

Sometimes they would remind their readers that they were an apostle - someone who was in the original Twelve that Jesus had selected and called.  Paul would sometimes remind his readers that Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus, and therefore had the same calling that compelled him to write.

Jude does something a little different.  Here's how he begins his letter:

"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James..."

That got to me this morning.  Think about that: if you were the half brother of Jesus, wouldn't that be authority enough?  I mean, wouldn't you play that card in your small group, in your family, or any other scenario in which you were giving your opinion about life and life with God?

Not Jude.  Sure, he appeals to his association with James - the other half brother of Jesus, leader of the church in Jerusalem, and author of the New Testament book which bears his name.

But Jude doesn't use his family relationship with Jesus for leverage.  Instead, he places himself underneath Jesus.

Brother of James.  Servant of Jesus.

I love that.  I love the humility there.  "I grew up with him, but make no mistake: we're not equals.  He's in charge.  Not me.  I serve him, just like you serve him.  So, as a fellow servant, and as someone who is now leading in his church with my brother, listen to this."

That's what I'm reading this morning.  That's how God is speaking to me directly.

So again, I ask you:

Whatcha reading?

Comments

[Mandy]

Starting a thirty day You Version plan through the gospels with Tim as we dig into the new Jesus Culture sermon series!

[Jesse Tink]

Nice Mandy! I've done that one on YouVersion as well. In fact, I go back to it just about every 3rd plan or so. Just seems to keep me centered on what is most important.