Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents begins by stating that "the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability, and immediately he went on a long journey". A talent was an amount of money.
We read that the servant who had been issued five talents traded with those and made another five; he who had been issued two gained two more and he who had been issued one hid what he had been given, investing nothing into what he had received. We read that the Lord was pleased with the two who had increased what was given them but he who handed back what was given was "wicked and lazy"- the talent given him was taken away and added to he who had ten.
"For to every one who has, more will be given; and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have; even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth". Is the Lord teaching us that if we don't double our money we shall be cast into outer darkness? The servants who HAD the given talents made more talents: the servants that HAVE a revelation of Jesus Christ INVEST themselves (all their heart, soul and strength) in the revelation, and as they put action to that faith, more is given and eventually they will HAVE in abundance. Those who do not HAVE will not INVEST themselves in what the Lord has revealed to them; they assign inaccurate attributes to God (notice the two profitable servants had nothing bad to say about their Lord); even what they HAD will be taken away. I am impressed this means that at some point God had made Himself real to this sort of person. Instead of acting on the revelation of Jesus Christ, they turn from it, ultimately to their destruction.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom." Sounds pretty good so far- ALL these virgins were making there way to the bridegroom.
"Now five of them were wise and five were foolish (Jesus instructs us to prepare, gird ourselves and serve Him). Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish (unprepared) said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out'. But the wise answered, saying, 'no lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy (now trying to GET prepared), the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
It seems to me this parable is about our current state of readiness which is a function of our desire for intimacy with Him. In the end, it made little difference to the bridegroom that the unwise (unprepared) virgins knew of him; or that they moved in his direction when they heard of his coming; or that they tried to get ready to come to him after they found themselves unprepared. No, the bridegroom in the parable was interested in the virgins who had BEEN ready for him to come. Apparently the wise virgins had done everything they understood to do so, when the bridegroom came, they were ready to go to him!
Review the scripture and ask the Lord to reveal to you your state of readiness. When He comes for His Church, you will be glad you asked and that He will be pleased to have you.
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom." Sounds pretty good so far- ALL these virgins were making there way to the bridegroom.
"Now five of them were wise and five were foolish (Jesus instructs us to prepare, gird ourselves and serve Him). Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish (unprepared) said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out'. But the wise answered, saying, 'no lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy (now trying to GET prepared), the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
It seems to me this parable is about our current state of readiness which is a function of our desire for intimacy with Him. In the end, it made little difference to the bridegroom that the unwise (unprepared) virgins knew of him; or that they moved in his direction when they heard of his coming; or that they tried to get ready to come to him after they found themselves unprepared. No, the bridegroom in the parable was interested in the virgins who had BEEN ready for him to come. Apparently the wise virgins had done everything they understood to do so, when the bridegroom came, they were ready to go to him!
Review the scripture and ask the Lord to reveal to you your state of readiness. When He comes for His Church, you will be glad you asked and that He will be pleased to have you.
Monday, March 5, 2012
An Exhortation Which Speaks To Sons
Hebrews 12:1-6
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (in many cases martyrs), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us (good to know there is some order to this salvation in Christ Jesus- He sets our race before us!), looking unto Jesus, the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God(where all overcomers in Christ Jesus are to be seated {Revelation 3:21}).
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the EXHORTATION WHICH SPEAKS TO YOU AS TO SONS: 'My son, do not despise the chastening (discipline) of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives'."
Not quite the exhortation that healing or His hand of provision would bring but it is my conviction that the man will not become complete in Christ without it. The Lord is teaching us that we should be empowered, strengthened to carry on by His chastening, rebuke and scourging. The saints in Christ mentioned in chapter 11:30-40 are watching and praying for us!
The faith of God in Christ Jesus brings a revelation to us as to how we should respond to others AND our call to serve in His church. All along the way we will encounter opportunity to serve God as opposed to self-direction - to be led by His revealed and living Word or the carnal wisdom of man. Jesus knew what His call was, even as an adolescent informing His mother Mary that "I must be about my Father's business". The Word exhorts us to look to Him - what He was willing to do for us! Consider Him, who endured such hostility from sinners and to forget not this exhortation.
12:7,8 "If you endure chastening (which He is Lord over), God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening (will not be chastened), of which ALL (in Him) have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons". Wow!
12:10,11 "For they (human fathers, probably Israel's religious class) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward IT YIELDS the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who have been trained by it".
I pray that, as you read this discussion, you will seek, knock and ask Him to reveal what He knows you need to hear in this matter. We must be willing to partake fully of suffering with Him unto death and burial of self-service so we may rise up IN HIM and walk just as He walked! Remember, He has your race ready to reveal to you.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (in many cases martyrs), let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us (good to know there is some order to this salvation in Christ Jesus- He sets our race before us!), looking unto Jesus, the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God(where all overcomers in Christ Jesus are to be seated {Revelation 3:21}).
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the EXHORTATION WHICH SPEAKS TO YOU AS TO SONS: 'My son, do not despise the chastening (discipline) of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives'."
Not quite the exhortation that healing or His hand of provision would bring but it is my conviction that the man will not become complete in Christ without it. The Lord is teaching us that we should be empowered, strengthened to carry on by His chastening, rebuke and scourging. The saints in Christ mentioned in chapter 11:30-40 are watching and praying for us!
The faith of God in Christ Jesus brings a revelation to us as to how we should respond to others AND our call to serve in His church. All along the way we will encounter opportunity to serve God as opposed to self-direction - to be led by His revealed and living Word or the carnal wisdom of man. Jesus knew what His call was, even as an adolescent informing His mother Mary that "I must be about my Father's business". The Word exhorts us to look to Him - what He was willing to do for us! Consider Him, who endured such hostility from sinners and to forget not this exhortation.
12:7,8 "If you endure chastening (which He is Lord over), God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening (will not be chastened), of which ALL (in Him) have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons". Wow!
12:10,11 "For they (human fathers, probably Israel's religious class) indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward IT YIELDS the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who have been trained by it".
I pray that, as you read this discussion, you will seek, knock and ask Him to reveal what He knows you need to hear in this matter. We must be willing to partake fully of suffering with Him unto death and burial of self-service so we may rise up IN HIM and walk just as He walked! Remember, He has your race ready to reveal to you.
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