uh oh

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Hebrews 7:18-28. Paul tells us that the law "never made anything perfect." And he goes on, in chapter 11, to tell us what DOES make people "perfect."

But let's back up. There's a Taylor Swift song on the radio these days that proclaims "shade never made anybody less gay." And while we would disagree with the intent behind her words (that "love is love" and we should condone homosexual behavior as normal), the words themselves are quite true, and agree with Paul's message tonight.

For those of you who don't speak millennial, what her sentence means is making someone feel bad (throw shade) about being gay won't make them stop being gay. And we should all learn from this. Yes, it's important to stand up for truth and holiness. Yes, it's even important to maintain a sense of outrage about deviant behavior. But "throwing shade" (making people feel guilty and bad about themselves) about living sinfully won't bring anyone home. It won't bring people to Jesus. It'll just make them hate Him.

Love is how we draw sinners to Jesus. In fact, love is how Jesus draws people (including you and me) to Himself. So let's keep that in mind, and remember that the law, and the shade, never made anybody less sinful.

God, thanks for reminding us that love draws people to You.