The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:19:11-27

kjv@Luke:19:11 @ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

kjv@Luke:19:12 @ He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

kjv@Luke:19:13 @ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

kjv@Luke:19:14 @ But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

kjv@Luke:19:15 @ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

kjv@Luke:19:16 @ Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

kjv@Luke:19:17 @ And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

kjv@Luke:19:18 @ And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

kjv@Luke:19:19 @ And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

kjv@Luke:19:20 @ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

kjv@Luke:19:21 @ For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

kjv@Luke:19:22 @ And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

kjv@Luke:19:23 @ Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

kjv@Luke:19:24 @ And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

kjv@Luke:19:25 @ (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

kjv@Luke:19:26 @ For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

kjv@Luke:19:27 @ But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:19:1-10 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
  
• After - Luke:19:28-44 The Triumphal Entry
  

(compare kjv@Matthew:25:14-30)

Study Resources:

filter:NT-GOSPEL far country

G4231 occupy/busy to trade G1281 trading/earn in business

G1401 bond servant/slave

G840 austere/severe

G4103 faithful/trustworthy

Notes:

kjv@Luke:16:2 servant giving an account
kjv@Romans:14:12 everyone of us

There are three definite things for us to take out of this parable:

1. The Lord is leaving in order to receive what is rightfully His - His kingdom. What the disciples failed to understand was that He had to leave in order to get it.
   
2. The Lord has given His servants charge to faithfully execute His business while away and intends gain from them. His servants are held accountable for this increase.
   
3. The servants are judged and rewarded according to their trade during that time the Lord was gone. The servant's judgment is separate from the citizens that would have nothing to do with the Lord from the beginning.
   

A servant allows for the Lord's reign and therefore becomes subservient and faithful to the Lord's wishes. Not all servants see their servitude in the same light; some see Him and it as austere (over blown). This effects what they are able to accomplish for the Lord by what they are willing to risk and invest. In fact they don't at all invest it, they hoard it or secure it to themselves.

What should rather be thought of as austere is the citizens where this purse is to be invested refusing to allow the Lord's reign over them. What should be thought reaping where not sown is the citizen that thinks there will still be a heaven for himself minus this Lord's absolute rule. It cannot be said that this Lord has not sowed because He humbled Himself to give His own life as commanded to make this kingdom happen. He invested His own worth into His servants to make them all the greater in their future reward.

The question should be then "what is it that He has given to us that He wanted us to take and profit with for Him"? Certainly He has given us eternal life and all things pertaining to that life and godliness, His Holy Spirit, His grace, His love, His forgiveness, His precious promises that we might partake of His divine nature, His Holy Word, all spiritual gifts, command to go out into all the world to preach the forgiveness of sins and baptism in Jesus, a ministry of reconciliation. Think of this as the talent you have been given while He is away.

What is it we are to do with all of this? It is known through scripture that we are to die to ourselves, present ourselves a daily living sacrifice, be transformed by the renewing of our mind, gather into one body with many members, shine as a lamp lit to light the whole room, be the salt of this earth, as a unified front be servants/ambassadors of the new life in Him, to love one another with His love, do that which cannot be done by ourselves alone, produce the fruit that only comes by knowing and abiding in Him and the knowledge of Him, to love our enemies as ourselves. In order to do this we each have to be meek, poor in our own spirit, hungry for righteousness, pure in heart, willing even unto persecution in His name, diligent at adding faith to virtue/knowledge to virtue/temperance to knowledge/patience to temperance/godliness to patience/brotherly kindness to godliness/charity to kindness. In essence we are to love God with all our heart/soul/mind/strength and love others as we love ourselves, but that is saying more than just a simple intellectual consent, we are to give ourselves to this in the ministry of reconciliation through Christ to fulfill the great works that we were created unto.

Finally, does it really seem all that odd that a king would not tolerate those who would not allow his rule over them especially if they were by word and deed seeking and causing others to the same? Is it not treasonous what they are doing? In the heavenly kingdom it happens to be that there is not another kingdom for them to be exiled to. Why then is it thought of this king Jesus unreasonable to do what any other king or kingdom would do in effort of protecting their own eminent rule? In other words, what good is it establishing a new eternal kingdom if the make up of it is going to be identical to the corrupted life before the kingdom? This is the world in which we invest our new all into, a world where not His word, not His Spirit, not His testimony through us is able to win many over, but we try for the sake of the few that might.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:19:11-27
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:19:11-27 rwp@Luke:19:11-27 mhcc@Luke:19:11-27
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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