This Is What We DoSample

This Is Irrational

Today’s reading from Matthew is the story of Palm Sunday. It’s a pretty irrational story.

Jesus of Nazareth needed to get into Jerusalem, so He told His disciples to go grab Him a donkey. Cool. Fine. Maybe people borrowed donkeys a lot back then. But it’s what happened next that seems irrational.

People came from around Jerusalem to see Jesus ride in, but they didn’t just watch. They began cutting branches off nearby trees to wave and also to create a carpet for the donkey Jesus was riding on. They started taking their robes off and lining the ground for Jesus to ride on them instead of the dirt. Why? Didn’t they care they were defacing the beauty of the trees lining the road? Didn’t they care they were ruining their clothes? What about modesty? How could they be so foolish and wasteful?

Palm Sunday is completely irrational. It’s also incredibly beautiful.

What happened? There was a realization that inspired irrationally generous worship. The people didn’t see a man riding a donkey. They saw their Messiah, who was about to change human history, riding an animal of peace.

When you’re in God’s presence, everything on you, around you, and in you becomes something you want to use to worship Him.

Love is irrationally generous. It gives. It gives more. It gives until the point of sacrifice. God is love. True worship is always an expression of love and generosity. The people watching Jesus gave whatever they could get their hands on—including their own clothes—because they thought it would honor Jesus. Because, when you’re in God’s presence, everything on you, around you, and in you becomes something you want to use to worship Him.

At Life.Church we love to say, “We will lead the way with irrational generosity because we truly believe it is more blessed to give than to receive.” Irrational generosity is what we do. This is what we do because of the One who came riding in on a donkey. Remember what happened a few days later? Jesus gave His life to destroy sin and death so that we could live in friendship with Him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit forever. Does something in you want to throw your coat on the ground when you read that? You can. As you complete this Bible Plan, ask yourself, “What is in me, what is on me, what is around me that I can use to worship my Savior?” This is why we tithe. This is why we give our time, energy, and friendship to even “the least.” This is why we live abundant lives of irrational generosity.

This is what we do because of who He is.

Pray: Jesus, I want to live with irrational generosity. Show me what’s in me, on me, and around me that I can give back to You in worship. Thank You for giving up everything so I could live abundantly. Amen!