Luke 16: 1-11
Whatever we may do in this life while working to support our family or to get ahead we typically must serve someone else. In this way we have an earthly master, not to be confused with our Heavenly Master. As long as we are employed by an earthly master we are a manager over some part of the earthly master’s business even if it is simply managing our own time.
In Luke 16 Jesus is teaching that an the earthly master has asked for an accounting of an unrighteous manager of his business. The master was suspicious of what his manager had been doing.
Once the manager knew what the master was asking for, immediately he began to scheme secretly of how he could make the best of the situation for himself because he knew the master would not be pleased. The master would surely let him go when he found out what the manager had been doing. The scheme he hatched was that he would go to each of the master’s debtors he was in charge of, and reduce the amounts the debtors owed to the master. This way the debtors would think he was a good man and they could possibly help him by giving him somewhere to stay or help in some financial way once he was out of a job.
The world is full of schemers and many times the world thinks of them more highly than just your average good, honest person. The schemer may even be thought of as "shrewd". This is what the master thought after he knew all of what the manager was doing.
As believers Jesus wants us to understand that we are to be as shrewd as those of the world with what God has given us. Do not squander even your worldly possessions. Take care of what you have while here, but do not serve wealth. Being a good steward of what we are blessed with is good practice for what God will give us in eternity.
To love the things of this life only without planning for eternity will result in only getting what life here has to offer and no eternal rewards.
To plan for eternal life only while forgetting about proper relation to things of this life is the type of mistake you would think an immature believer might make.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Failure To Inquire of God
2 Kings 1:2-8
The Samarian king Ahaziah had been seriously injured from a fall through some lattuce work in his upper room. He sent a messenger to inquire of "the god of Ekron" Baal-Zebub, to see if he would recover from his injury.
However, God would not be silenced and Elijah met the messenger while on his way and said "This is what the LORD says: Is it because their is no God in Isreal you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therfore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die."
One of the reasons the king may not have wanted to inquire of The God of Isreal is because he was not willing to face the fact that the answer he recieved may not be what he wanted to hear.
Is our first response to the major questions in our life to consult worldly knowledge?
Is one of the reasons we don't inquire of God due to the fact we may not want to accept the answer He will give?
The Samarian king Ahaziah had been seriously injured from a fall through some lattuce work in his upper room. He sent a messenger to inquire of "the god of Ekron" Baal-Zebub, to see if he would recover from his injury.
However, God would not be silenced and Elijah met the messenger while on his way and said "This is what the LORD says: Is it because their is no God in Isreal you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therfore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die."
One of the reasons the king may not have wanted to inquire of The God of Isreal is because he was not willing to face the fact that the answer he recieved may not be what he wanted to hear.
Is our first response to the major questions in our life to consult worldly knowledge?
Is one of the reasons we don't inquire of God due to the fact we may not want to accept the answer He will give?
Monday, September 21, 2009
A Divine Spirit
Genesis 41:28-38
Pharoh had been given a dream in his sleep about the coming famine, he was so troubled and there was such a burning in him to have the interpretation that he called for all the magicians and wise men in Egypt. When none was able to give Pharoh an answer, Joseph was called for out of the dungeon. The cupbearer for Pharoh had been in the dungeon with Joseph at one time and had experianced that there was different spirit that resided with Joseph, which was able give him wisdom and knowledge that was not of this world.
When Pharoh asked Joseph of this he repiled "It is not me, God will give Pharoh a favorable answer".
Pharoh told Joseph the dream and after Joseph gave Pharoh the interpretaion Pharoh said of Joseph, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?"
God has the answers we need and knows what is coming upon us. In most instances the world is unable to see the answers that are needed and sometimes God hides it from them. I pray God to give me wisdom in all situations, guide us with "a divine Spirit."
Pharoh had been given a dream in his sleep about the coming famine, he was so troubled and there was such a burning in him to have the interpretation that he called for all the magicians and wise men in Egypt. When none was able to give Pharoh an answer, Joseph was called for out of the dungeon. The cupbearer for Pharoh had been in the dungeon with Joseph at one time and had experianced that there was different spirit that resided with Joseph, which was able give him wisdom and knowledge that was not of this world.
When Pharoh asked Joseph of this he repiled "It is not me, God will give Pharoh a favorable answer".
Pharoh told Joseph the dream and after Joseph gave Pharoh the interpretaion Pharoh said of Joseph, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?"
God has the answers we need and knows what is coming upon us. In most instances the world is unable to see the answers that are needed and sometimes God hides it from them. I pray God to give me wisdom in all situations, guide us with "a divine Spirit."
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Praise Him Anyway
Acts 16:25-34
Paul and Silas were beaten and put into jail because they had been directly involved in the conversion of a fortune teller. If we were in their place we would problably think that we were unfairly treated. I'm sure the Paul and Silas probably felt that as well. however this did not keep them from singing praise to God for the sake of those around them. Not only were Paul and Silas freed by the praise, everyone around them was as well, including the jailer and his whole household.
When we face hurtful difficulties, it is important that we realize those around us are paying attention. This may include unbelivers who are looking at us to see if our faith is real or based soley on good experiences.
Paul and Silas were beaten and put into jail because they had been directly involved in the conversion of a fortune teller. If we were in their place we would problably think that we were unfairly treated. I'm sure the Paul and Silas probably felt that as well. however this did not keep them from singing praise to God for the sake of those around them. Not only were Paul and Silas freed by the praise, everyone around them was as well, including the jailer and his whole household.
When we face hurtful difficulties, it is important that we realize those around us are paying attention. This may include unbelivers who are looking at us to see if our faith is real or based soley on good experiences.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Once For All
Hebrews 10: 9-14
"He sets aside the first to establish the second, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
To make more pointed the argument that the old sacrifice has been set aside, in verses 11- 14 the writer of Hebrews he makes a contrast between the sacrifices the Levitical priest offered and Christ's sacrifice. The Levitical priest always stood because his work was never finished. These sacrifices were unable to accomplish what they signified. They could not remove sin so they had to be offered over and over.
Christ sat down at the right hand of God because His work was completed. His one sacrifice atoned for all sins of all time, making any further sacrifice unnecessary.
Thank You Lord for your sacrifice in my place! Nothing further is required for me to be holy before You, Holy Spirit guide me to accept what He has already accomplished.
"He sets aside the first to establish the second, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
To make more pointed the argument that the old sacrifice has been set aside, in verses 11- 14 the writer of Hebrews he makes a contrast between the sacrifices the Levitical priest offered and Christ's sacrifice. The Levitical priest always stood because his work was never finished. These sacrifices were unable to accomplish what they signified. They could not remove sin so they had to be offered over and over.
Christ sat down at the right hand of God because His work was completed. His one sacrifice atoned for all sins of all time, making any further sacrifice unnecessary.
Thank You Lord for your sacrifice in my place! Nothing further is required for me to be holy before You, Holy Spirit guide me to accept what He has already accomplished.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Cast Me Not
Psalm 51:10-12 (NASB)
10) Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11) Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Pslam 51 is reguarded as a prayer of David after Nathan had came to him and let him know God knew his sin. Verses 10-12 is a cry to purity for us as His children today, as we seek Him for a pure heart, a spirit of faithfulness and a willing spirit of service.
In verse 10 the word "Create" is important as it is asking for something new, which cannot emerge from what now is, and which only God can fashion.
As in the very beginning in Genesis 1:1-2 when God created the heavens and earth from something that was not there, (the earth was formeless and empty, darkeness was over the surface of the deep).
When God purifies his people He must create something new from our dark, formless, empty and sinful hearts.
Verse 11 the two request are essentially one in the same. David recalls the rejection of Saul and pleads for God not to take away his spirit, by which He had equipped and qualified him for royal service. By his Spirit, God had performed his purposes in creation and redemption, equipped His servants for their appointed tasks, inspired his prophets and directed their ministries.
Verse 12 The restoration of the joy of salvation and a willing spirit of service can only happen if God does not reject or take His Spirit from us. If granted the joy of His salvation will return to gladden our troubled souls which is our sustainance.
10) Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11) Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Pslam 51 is reguarded as a prayer of David after Nathan had came to him and let him know God knew his sin. Verses 10-12 is a cry to purity for us as His children today, as we seek Him for a pure heart, a spirit of faithfulness and a willing spirit of service.
In verse 10 the word "Create" is important as it is asking for something new, which cannot emerge from what now is, and which only God can fashion.
As in the very beginning in Genesis 1:1-2 when God created the heavens and earth from something that was not there, (the earth was formeless and empty, darkeness was over the surface of the deep).
When God purifies his people He must create something new from our dark, formless, empty and sinful hearts.
Verse 11 the two request are essentially one in the same. David recalls the rejection of Saul and pleads for God not to take away his spirit, by which He had equipped and qualified him for royal service. By his Spirit, God had performed his purposes in creation and redemption, equipped His servants for their appointed tasks, inspired his prophets and directed their ministries.
Verse 12 The restoration of the joy of salvation and a willing spirit of service can only happen if God does not reject or take His Spirit from us. If granted the joy of His salvation will return to gladden our troubled souls which is our sustainance.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Time Marches On
Mark 15:32-42
Jesus in Gethsemane took his disciples with him to pray immediatley before his arrest. He asked them to keep watch with him even though he went a little further to be alone in his secret place. When he returned not once but three times they were sleeping. The disciples were a lot like me. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. After the third such incident Jesus came back and said to them "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the son of man is betrayed".
It appears that Jesus was upset that they could not recogize the hour they faced and time was over.
Let us not be caught asleep when time has elapsed. And Jesus says to us "Enough!".
Jesus in Gethsemane took his disciples with him to pray immediatley before his arrest. He asked them to keep watch with him even though he went a little further to be alone in his secret place. When he returned not once but three times they were sleeping. The disciples were a lot like me. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. After the third such incident Jesus came back and said to them "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the son of man is betrayed".
It appears that Jesus was upset that they could not recogize the hour they faced and time was over.
Let us not be caught asleep when time has elapsed. And Jesus says to us "Enough!".
Quenching Legalism
Acts 15:5-11.
It is easy for us that have been in His service for sometime to look at newer converts with some amount of self conceit simply becuase they may not follow our self imposed codes of "righteous" conduct.
Pray today that we allow the Holy Sprit to have his way in less mature belivers and that our supposed maturity would not lay undue burdens on them as they continue to learn form the Master.
It is easy for us that have been in His service for sometime to look at newer converts with some amount of self conceit simply becuase they may not follow our self imposed codes of "righteous" conduct.
Pray today that we allow the Holy Sprit to have his way in less mature belivers and that our supposed maturity would not lay undue burdens on them as they continue to learn form the Master.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)