SHARING BREAD

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:39-40 (NIV)

The Pharisees well understood the messianic psalm of praise (Psalm 118:26) they were hearing sung from Jesus’ followers proclaiming Him to be the Messiah hence their cry for rebuke.

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.   Psalms 118:26 (NIV)

Jesus responds by stating the necessity of the proclamation of His Kingship for if they had not joyfully praised Him, even the inanimate objects would have testified on His behalf.  God is so amazingly cool!  He does not need man to accomplish His purposes, any old rock will do!  I am reminded of the crucifixion when the rocks actually cried out by splitting, the earth shook, the sun stopped shining and the curtain of the temple was torn in two – in effect, all proclaiming the glory of the suffering Jesus:

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.   Matt 27:51 (NIV)

⁴⁴ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.   Luke 23:44-45 (NIV)

Why He can even make a donkey talk!  In Numbers we find the prophet Balaam on his donkey heading on a mission that God opposed.  Interestingly, God uses the donkey to thwart Balaam’s plans.  In fact, we find in this passage Balaam and his donkey actually carrying on a conversation!

²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. ²² But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. ²⁴ Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again. ²⁶ Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. ²⁸ Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” ²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” ³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. ³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. ³² The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. ³³ The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”   Num 22:21-33 (NIV)

“To convince Balaam, God employed a silly donkey, a creature notoriously dull and stupid.  God enabled not only a dumb creature to speak, but a dull creature to speak to the purpose….God has many ways of bringing down the hard and unhumbled heart.”     Matthew Henry

As even “the heavens declare the glory of God” and “the skies proclaim the works of his hands” (Psalm 19:1) what are our lives speaking, as the most articulate of all God’s creatures?  What glory, praise and proclamations are the declarations of our days?  Indeed, as King David states later in Psalm 19:

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.    Psalms 19:14 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• God uses even inanimate objects to accomplish His purposes.
• God has many ways of bringing down the prideful heart.
• I desire for the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart to be pleasing in God’s sight.

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SHARING BREAD

³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁸ ”Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Luke 19:37-38 (NIV)

I am reminded of the wonderful words in King David’s Psalm of Praise – praising God for His abundant provisions and tender care towards those who love Him:

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. ² Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. ³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. ⁴ One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. ⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. ⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. ⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.    Psalms 145:1-7 (NIV)

“God has an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the fame of His name among the nations.”   John Piper

God delights in the praise of His people and rightly so.  Praise is the natural outflow of the joyful and grateful heart of His servants.  It is the proper attitude – it is the humble attitude of gratitude which warms the heart of our Father.

“Cultivating a grateful heart is not just an add-on nicety, a civil tip of the hat to God as we steamroll through our day.  A posture of purposeful, perpetual thanks to God is absolutely central to Christian character.  It gives glory to Him.  It is the key defense against Satan’s temptations to despair, distrust, dysfunction.  It protects us from sin and self.  It is the hallmark of heaven.  It does not exist in hell.”  Ellen Vaughn, Radical Gratitude

 A prideful, self-sufficient heart is not capable of praise.  Praise is contemptible to the proud, beneath their consideration.  Perhaps this is why Scripture states:

That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”   James 4:6 (NIV)

God mocks proud mockers yet freely bestows grace to the humble.  Praising God gives us a proper perspective of who we are and of who He is. Again the Psalms proclaim:

¹ Praise the LORD.  How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!  ² The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. ³ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ⁴ He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. ⁵ Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. ⁶ The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.    Psalms 147:1-6 (NIV)

“Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.”  Charles Jefferson

The best way for us to develop a grateful heart towards God is to consider His past mercies.  How faithful and loving He is in even the smallest details of our lives.  How precious and tender His love for us – even if we find ourselves in disagreement of or in unpleasant circumstances His hand has allowed.  Perhaps they are not of our choosing, perhaps we are “kicking against the goads” in anger and disappointment rather than praise and thankfulness.  In choosing to be grateful for the future good that will inevitably come to us as a child of God from this difficult circumstance, we demonstrate the “sacrifice of praise.”  It evidences our knowledge that these circumstances allowed are for our good and His glory never one surpassing the other.   

 ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)

“Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.”  Charles Spurgeon

“Let God do with me whatever He will; whatever it be, it will be either heaven itself or some beginning of it.”   William Mountford

What I glean from this:

·       Thankfulness and praise releases the glory of God.

• God is delighted when I praise and thank Him.  “Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.”  Matthew Henry
• As I thank Him for every circumstance, even the difficult ones, I am demonstrating a faith and gratitude of His workings in my life.  “The best way to show my gratitude to God is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.”  Mother Teresa

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SHARING BREAD

³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

Luke 19:35-36 (NIV)

“When a king comes, something great and magnificent is expected.  But there is nothing of that here; ‘See, he comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey.’  When Christ would appear in his glory, it is in his gentleness, not in his majesty.  His temper is very mild.  He is meek to suffer the greatest injuries and indignities for Zion’s cause.  He is easy of access, easy to be entreated.  His government is mild and gentle, and his laws not written in the blood of his subjects, but in his own.  His yoke is easy.  As an evidence of this, his appearance is very humble, sitting on a donkey, a creature made not for show, but service, not for battles, but for burdens; slow in its motions, but sure, and safe and constant.  Zion’s king comes riding, not on a prancing horse, which the timorous petitioner dares not come near, or a running horse, which the slow-footed petitioner cannot keep pace with, but on a quiet donkey, that the poorest of his subjects may not be discouraged in their access to him.”   Matthew Henry

Placing their cloaks on the colt for Jesus to ride upon and spreading their clothing on the road before Him as He went along, this great crowd of people sought to honor their Lord to the best of their capacity.   Clothing would have been a very valuable possession to these subjects seeking to honor Christ as their King – going out of their way to prove their devotion to Him.    Behind their deed of obedience was the reality of Jesus – our God -our Savior – which spoke volumes to those attending and which continues to speak to us now.  As our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, we too must lay all at His feet.  I am reminded of Jesus’ words to us:

²³ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?   Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

Interestingly, it is only in the denial of self and the living for Christ that one discovers the abundance that Jesus offers His followers in the here and now:

 ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.   John 10:10 (NIV)

Denial of self, of course, wars against our flesh.  It simply does not make sense that to live you must die, that to get you must give, that we are to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors – turning the other cheek, walking the extra mile.  Yet our obedience to this call demonstrates our faith in and devotion to our Lord.

“We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives.”  Charles Spurgeon

If we could ever seal it in our thoughts that every soul, apart from Christ, including ourselves of course, is poor, pitiful, blind and naked and in desperate need of mercy and grace – mercy and grace would certainly flow more freely from among us!  Not one of us is above falling.  This is why the body of Christ (the Church) so desperately needs each other for encouragement, exhortation, accountability and prayer.  God never intended for us to live as islands.  Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in bodily form,  being our Supreme example –condescended to come down from heaven to us gentle, mild, humble, easy to be entreated, easy to access, loving, selfless and constant.  How much more so should we, His servants and disciples, through the power of His Spirit, display His splendor to those He places in our sphere?

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.   Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

“Jesus is the One who shows us the paradoxical route to meaning in a chaotic and hostile world.  It’s the paradox of the gospel: Strength is found in weakness. Control is found in dependency. Power is found in surrender….God uses the frustrations of this life and the hurt of relationships to compel us to look beyond what we can control to the God who controls all things in order to woo us to himself. As we move from control to surrender, we move from chasing the wind under the sun to embracing God above it.”    Dan Allender, Breaking the Idols of You

What I glean from this:

• Jesus’ call is for my all.
• It is in the denial of self and living for Jesus that I discover life in abundance – the life Jesus desires for all of His followers to have.
• I am to be a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

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SHARING BREAD

³² Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. ³³ As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

³⁴ They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

Luke 19:32-34 (NIV)

Seeking to fulfill the prophecy found in Zechariah predicting the Messiah arriving in Jerusalem riding on a donkey; Jesus sends two of His disciples ahead of Him to obtain a colt for Him to enter on.  All righteousness was fulfilled through Jesus (Matthew 3:15).  We find in Zechariah:

 ⁹ Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.   Zech 9:9 (NIV)

Unlike most people of our day, the crowds would certainly have grasped the message behind this symbolic entrance into Jerusalem.  They were very well aware that Jesus was presenting Himself as the Messiah.  Interestingly, most conquering kings entered riding on a horse yet Jesus enters on the colt of a donkey – a symbol of peace.  How very fitting for the Prince of Peace!  Unlike earthly kings, Jesus’ heart was not set upon the glories of this world, for His glories were in that of another world.  His gaze was fixed toward heaven.  Scripture tells us He was resolute in His approach towards Jerusalem and focused on the joy that His ensuing actions on the cross would eventually accomplish – bringing many sons and daughters to glory.  The joy was certainly not in the cross but what the cross would accomplish.  Scripture tells us:

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.   Luke 9:51 (NIV)

² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.    Heb 12:2 (NIV)

“Was He so eager to suffer and die for us, and shall we draw back from any service we are capable of doing for Him?”   Matthew Henry

My favorite part of the today’s verses is the small phrase “went and found it just as He had told them.”   The ways of God are always wonderful!  You can take what He tells you to the bank!  All of His promises are sure, trustworthy and true.  He had foretold His disciples exactly what would happen and they went in faith on His Word.  This is exactly His desire for His followers today.  We are to walk (live) by faith in His Word and not by sight.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

  ⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ We live by faith, not by sight.    2 Cor 5:6-7 (NIV)

Paul followed Jesus’ example of living this earthly life focused on the unseen rather than the seen – the ultimate rather than the immediate realities. Over and over and over again throughout Scripture – from Genesis to Revelation – God proves His promises true.  I am reminded of the promise of a son given to Sarah in her old age – humanly, her womb being dead.  The promise was so ludicrous to Sarah and Abraham they both laughed yet God always comes through on His promises – always – for “is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 28:14):

¹ Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. ² Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.    Gen 21:1-2 (NIV)

“We mustn’t doubt in the darkness what God has shown us in the light.”  Robert J. Morgan

We find in Joshua these words regarding the conquests of the Israelites upon their entrance into the Promised Land:

⁴³ So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. ⁴⁴ The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers.  Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. ⁴⁵ Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.    Josh 21:43-45 (NIV)

 “Real trust in God is above circumstances and appearances.”  George Muller

Written to his wife during one difficult time in the work of the China Inland Mission, “We have twenty-five cents – and all the promises of God!”  J. Hudson Taylor

What I glean from this:

• Jesus’ focus while on the earth was eternal setting an example for me to follow.  “This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”   1 John 2:5-6 (NIV)
• All the promises of Scripture are mine.

·       God will always fulfill His promises.

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SHARING BREAD

²⁸ After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ³⁰ “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Luke 19:28-31 (NIV)

Here we find our Lord on His way up to Jerusalem stopping only a short distance from His destination in Bethphage and Bethany for preparations to be made for His entrance.   The way needed to be prepared so that upon entrance to the city people would know that He was presenting Himself as the Messiah. 

As His disciples today, we too should be preparing for His returning entrance – this time returning not as a babe born in a manger but as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We find in Scripture:

 ⁷ “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” Rev 22:7 (NIV)

 ¹² “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.   Rev 22:12-13 (NIV)

When Jesus returns He will no longer be cloaked with humanity but with glory. Man will fall prostrate as though dead at His awesome sight.  The beloved disciple John writes the following description and his ensuing action upon the sight of it:

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. ¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.   Rev 1:12-17 (NIV)

Preparedness of the saints for Jesus’ sure return is preached throughout God’s Word.  We find in 2 Peter:

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. ¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.    2 Peter 3:10-13 (NIV)

“Oh that I may be roused out of my slumber, and be watchful and ready against the coming of my Bridegroom…Even the wise virgins fell asleep.  Let this be a warning to me, O Lord.  Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a flame:  thus sin is of a progressive nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped and opposed in time.  Watch, therefore, over this unsteady heart of mine, O Thou Keeper of Israel; that as soon as it begins to wander from Thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a serpent.  Give me grace to look upon every hour as my last; so that being ever wisely upon my guard I may meet Thee with joy when my time is run out, whenever it shall please Thee to call me hence.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

If there is one doctrine I have preached more than another, it is the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints even to the end.   C. H. Spurgeon

To be prepared to die is to be prepared to live.  To be ready for eternity is in the best sense to be ready for time.  Who is so fit to live on earth as the man who is fit to live in heaven?   C. H. Spurgeon

“The sin of our times is the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die.”   Dorothy Sayers

What I glean from this:

·       Jesus return is certain – my readiness is essential.

·        To be prepared for heaven is to be prepared to live life.  This is life in abundance. “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”  Lewis

·        “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.”  C. H. Spurgeon

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SHARING BREAD

²⁵ ”‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

²⁶ ”He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. ²⁷ But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them–bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Luke 19:25-27 (NIV)

Jesus’ words certainly sound different from the rhetoric espoused by the so-called pundits in our modern day political arena.  He has a way of turning the world upside down with His teaching, shaking the foundation both under the leaders of His day and of ours.  You can almost hear the “It’s not fair” mentality in the very first sentence of our verses for today!

Spiritual giftings are given by the Spirit as He determines to be used to further God’s kingdom here on earth, to build up the body (the church) and to bring Him glory.  We find in Scripture:

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.   1 Cor 12:7-11 (NIV)

When Christ returns, He desires to find us going about His Father’s business through these giftings which He has bestowed.  Make no mistake about it; every believer in Christ has received at least one gift from the Spirit – every believer.  Upon Jesus’ return to establish His kingdom, we are to be found faithfully using these giftings to fulfill the responsibilities God has prepared in advance for us to do – this, by the way, is for our good.  He will reward the faithful commensurate with their service and judge those for the lack thereof.  

“It is fitting that those should lose their gifts who will not use them.  ‘Take his mina away from him.’  It is given to him who had the ten minas.  When this was objected to because he had so much already, it is answered, ‘To everyone who has, more will be given.’  It is the rule of justice.”   Matthew Henry

We too may echo, “That is not fair,” yet the rule of justice proclaims the sentence stands.  As James tells us:

 ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.   James 4:12 (NIV)

“Let us then no longer envy one another, or indulge a rash and censorious spirit; but rather covet earnestly the best gifts of meekness and love, and by the help of Divine grace, faithfully improve the talent committed to our trust, that each of us may receive that heart-reviving word, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”  K.H. Von Bogatzky

His enemies, too, will be punished before Him.  As Scripture states this day will come upon us like a thief in the night, no one knows the day or hour of His return.  Paul tells us:

² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.   1 Thess 5:2-6 (NIV)

“Utter ruin will certainly be the portion of all Christ’s enemies.  Bring them here, to have their frivolous pleas overruled, and to receive sentence according to their merits.  Those who don’t want Christ to be their king shall be thought of and dealt with as his enemies.  Those will be accounted so who will not submit to Christ’s yoke, but will be their own masters.  Whoever will not be ruled by the grace of Christ will inevitably be ruined by the wrath of Christ.”   Matthew Henry

What I glean from this:

• Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as He determines.
• Every believer is a recipient of spiritual gifting.
• I am to faithfully use these gifts to fulfill the responsibilities which God has prepared in advance for me to do.

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SHARING BREAD

²⁰ ”Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. ²¹ I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

²² ”His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? ²³ Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

²⁴ ”Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

Luke 19:20-24 (NIV)

The faithful go about their Master’s business with eagerness awaiting His sure return.  There is much work for every Christian to do and there is need to set about it swiftly losing no time.  At Christ’s ascension He took care to furnish His Church with all things needed until His return. 

“He gave to some more, to others less; to everyone according to his own ability. When Divine Providence has made a difference in men’s ability, grace dispenses spiritual gifts accordingly, but still the ability itself is from Him.  Everyone had some one talent at least, and that is not a despicable stock for a poor servant to begin with.  A soul of our own is the one talent we are every one of us entrusted with, and it will find us with work.”   Matthew Henry

¹⁷ You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” ¹⁸ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.   Deut 8:17-18 (NIV)

I am reminded of the verses in Exodus regarding the task given Moses for the construction of the Tabernacle.  What are apparent in this passage, found in Exodus 35, are the willingness and the God given abilities of those who were called to do the work:

²⁹ All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do. ³⁰ Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³¹ and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts– ³² to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, ³³ to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. ³⁴ And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers–all of them master craftsmen and designers.   Ex 35:29-35 (NIV)

Certainly a pride stripper for man is it not?  Everything comes from His hand intended for His glory.  Sadly, somehow along the way, this has become confused. God has a purpose for what He has poured into us.  We are each to be, as Chambers states:  “My Utmost for His Highest.”

The failure of the servant to put his talents to work in the parable in our verses for today was an indication of his lack of faith in his Master’s certain return and his laziness towards putting forth the effort needed to improve the lot given him.  None will be called to account for more than they have received but for what we have received we must all give an accounting.

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.   Heb 4:13 (NIV)

² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.   1 Thess 5:2-3 (NIV)

⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”   Luke 12:40 (NIV)

 What I glean from this:

• I am foolish and lazy if I do not put to work what God has poured in me.
• It is God who gives ability and it is God who gets the glory.
• I must give an account for what I have received.

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SHARING BREAD

¹⁶ ”The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

¹⁷ ”‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

¹⁸ ”The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

¹⁹ ”His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

Luke 19:16-19 (NIV)

These verses found in the Parable of the Ten Minas beg the question:  Are we being good, benevolent, profitable, useful servants to our Master?  Indeed, trustworthiness being fleshed out in a life is both virtuous and advantageous to those who consider themselves bond-slaves of Jesus.  As followers of Christ we are told in Scripture through the pen of Paul:

 You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.        1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV)

²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.   1 Cor 7:23 (NIV)

Peter adding:

¹⁸ For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.   1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)

Purchased by the precious blood of the Lamb from the marketplace of sin, believers were redeemed from the useless, vain, unprofitable, meaningless, purposeless, futile and empty way of life – not only saved from these things but saved for the following:

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.   Eph 2:8-10 (NIV)

We were saved from our useless life for profitable works in Christ.  We were created to do good works hence when He returns His desire is to find us faithful and trustworthy in this endeavor.  This holds true even in, what we or the world may deem to be, the smallest things He has prepared for us to do.  Obedience is obedience – God considers nothing too small.  Again this begs the question:  Are we being useful servants to our Master?    

“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”  Edmund Burke

“If by doing some work which the undiscerning consider ‘not spiritual work’ I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”    Amy Carmichael

Paul tells us in Colossians:

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.   Col 3:23-24 (NIV)

“If He says ‘Well done,’ it does not matter who says otherwise.”   Matthew Henry

It lightens the load to know Whom we are serving – infusing our labor with dignity and honor.  We serve others faithfully for the sake of Christ who served us while we were yet sinners:

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.    Romans 5:8 (NIV)

“It is too bad that many believers minimize the place of good works in the Christian life.  Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven’.  We do not perform good works to get any glory for ourselves, but we do them to glorify His blood given on our behalf.  Hebrews 13:16 indicates that our good works are actually ‘spiritual sacrifices’ that we offer to God.”  Wales Goebel  

“There are degrees of glory in heaven; every vessel will be similarly full, but not similarly large.  And the degrees of glory there will be according to the degrees of usefulness here.”  Matthew Henry

What I glean from this:

• I am to be a useful, profitable servant for my Master.  “Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone, but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing, and God everything.”   St. Ignatius Loyola
• I am to be obedient in even the smallest things.  “All true knowledge of God is born out of obedience.”  John Calvin 
• I am working for the Lord and not for man.

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SHARING BREAD

¹⁵ ”He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

Luke 19:15 (NIV)

How are we using what God has blessed us with to serve Him and the interest of His kingdom among men?   In this parable Jesus is showing us that it certainly matters.  We are held accountable for the gifts that we have received; indeed, we are called foolish in Scripture if we are not careful in the way in which we choose to live out our lives.  Scripture tells us:

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.   Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)

The actual wording here indicates that we are to “look that we walk carefully” – choosing to live wisely by making the most of every opportunity.  Paul tells us in Colossians:

⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.    Col 4:5-6 (NIV)

We are to buy up the time, being ready in and out of season – the reason being:  time is short and the days are evil.  As Jesus tells us we are to be watchful and ready for His return:

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”   Luke 12:35-40 (NIV)

“(Jesus’ return) is not a reason for star-gazing, but for working in the power of the Holy Ghost.” Charles Spurgeon

Expectant and ready for service is how Jesus desires to find believers upon His return.  As Christ is our Master and our Model, we must be not only working servants but also expectantly waiting servants.  His charge is for us to be ready for His return.  As Jesus was always about His Father’s work, so should we be as His servants.  Indeed, this brings much glory to God:

⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.   John 15:8 (NIV)

“Do you seek any further reward beyond that of having pleased God?  In truth, you know not how great a good it is to please Him.”  John Chrysostom

“Every Christian life ought to be a force among men, a witness for Jesus and an influence for blessing and good. I know that there are few people like Billy Graham, whom God calls to do great things for Him. For men like  me, and perhaps you, the best thing that we can do in the small time allotted to us in this world is to live out a genuine, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life. In our little measure we can repeat the life of the Lord Himself, doing in our imperfect way a few of the wonderful things He would do if He were Himself in our place.”  Wales Goebel

“There must be a practical outworking of our faith here in this present world, or it will never endure in the world to come.  We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion.”  Billy Graham

¹⁰ See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.    Isaiah 40:10 (NIV)

⁵ My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations.  The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. ⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. ⁷ ”Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. ⁸ For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness ill last forever, my salvation through all generations.” ⁹ Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD;   Isaiah 51:5-9 (NIV)

What I glean from this:

• It matters how I live my life.  “It will do us good to be very empty, to be very weak, and so to go about our Master’s work.”  Charles Spurgeon
• Jesus’ certain return should motivate me towards His works that have been prepared in advance for me to do.  (Ephesians 2:10)
• It is God’s will for me to bear much fruit. 

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SHARING BREAD

¹⁴ ”But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

Luke 19:14 (NIV)

This verse so reminds me of a young mother’s response to her two year old pitching a fit because the child could not have what she wanted:  “It doesn’t really matter what you want!”  If you think about it, if our desires are anything contrary to or apart from or less than God’s perfect will it doesn’t really matter what we want – no matter how big a fit we want to pitch or how hard we stomp our feet and plug up our ears!  Some things are set in stone and there is no changing them.  God is God and it is He that is in control – not man.  If we need a quick reminder we should read the last four chapters of Job!       

The subjects presented in our verse for today, stated by Jesus in the Parable of the Ten Minas, had no desire for Him to be their king.  Ah, the Lordship of Christ – why do we buck it so?  Considering all He offers in leading and guiding us with His loving eye constantly upon us; considering the multitude of faithful promises in His Word, considering the powerful Holy Spirit encouraging, equipping, teaching, and comforting – again the question comes to my mind – why is it we buck His Lordship so?  Perhaps we believe that we know better than God what is the very best for us.  Perhaps like the subjects in our verse for today, we do not want Him as our King. Big mistake!  I am reminded of Paul’s words to the church in Corinth:

¹² Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.   1 Cor 13:12 (NIV)

God, who makes known the end from the beginning, does not see partially or in tunnel vision.  He sees the whole picture in its entirety and lovingly leads His children through paths that will conform them to the image of His Son which brings much peace to His child and much glory and honor to Him.  It is the path of peace.  It is the good way.  The prophet Jeremiah tells us:

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’    Jer 6:16 (NIV)

“We judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their consequences.  If we could do the same we would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.”  John Newton  

There is no doubt about it – sustained rest, peace, joy and satisfaction belong only to those who submit to the Lordship of Christ. We are all similar to the dove Noah first sent out of the safety net of the ark – we find no rest for our feet apart from His safe Lordship:

⁹ But the dove could find no place to set its feet because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark.   Gen 8:9 (NIV)  

“God always gives His very best to those who leave the choice with Him.”  Hudson Taylor

“Knowing that we are fulfilling God’s purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart.”   Chuck Colson

Scripture is replete with precious promises for those whom the Lord leads.  Below are a few to delight your soul:

“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”   Deut 33:12 (NIV)

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.   Psalms 23:1 (NIV)

² Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– ⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.   Psalms 103:2, 5 (NIV)

¹⁵ Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD. Psalms 144:15 (NIV)

³ You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

²⁸ ”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)

“How it pays to take one step at a time with God!”  Isobel Kuhn

What I glean from this:

·       I see only partially but God sees in entirety.

·       God offers me the path of peace and rest for my soul – it is the good way.

·       Sustained rest, peace, joy and satisfaction are mine through the Lordship of Jesus in my life.

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