Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  As the rains moved out yesterday we have been blessed with some incredible weather for the week.  I hope you have an opportunity to be out and enjoy it.

Yesterday we continued our walk through Malachi.  This passage, 2:1-9, is a challenge to the priests (and I believe to all of us) to consider where out heart is when it comes to worship and our offerings towards God.  In addition, it is a challenge to watch how we handle the Word of God and specifically the teachings that are contained within.

Finally, I believe the strongest challenge within this passage for all of us is to watch how we administer and live out the commandments of God.  Just as God shows no partiality in His love/judgment towards us, we should not show any partiality in how we express love and Christ-like accountability towards our neighbors.  Too often, I believe we over emphasize the sins of some without recognizing that all sin is sin and all of it is displeasing to God.

Let us never forget that the love and grace offered to us by God through Jesus Christ is available in full to everyone, and that God gives full and equal opportunity to all to take possession of that incredible gift.  And, in the light of that, let us live that out by living out grace to all of our neighbors.

Download and listen to the sermon here:  Stumbling Blocks – Rev. Bryon LePere

Scriptures Referenced:

• Malachi 2:1-9
• Romans 10:14-15
• 2 Corinthians 5:20
• Luke 17:1-4
• Galatians 6:1ff
• James 5:19-20
• Galatians 3:26-29
• Matthew 20:1-16