Tag: luk19

Investing Into the Kingdom!

Today’s reading illustrates an important truth through the Parable of the Ten Servants. In God’s kingdom, there is the expectation of being wise stewards. There is the expectation of investing and caring for what God has entrusted us. There is the expectation of a return. Notice how Jesus illustrates this. 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. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:15–17, KJV)

Now, in the parable, not all the servants were so respectful of their master and his resources. Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ (Luke 19:20–23, ESV)

As believers, God has entrusted us with the message of the Gospel, with certain gifts and talents. It should be for us as it was for the first servant in the parable, our great desire and passion to manage them for the glory of God and His kingdom—to one day give an accounting and be able to say, “Your pound has gained ten more!” The Christian life is not a side hustle but front and center. Let’s ask, “How do my actions and use of the gifts and talents God has given me advance His kingdom? After all, is there any greater God to serve than King Jesus? 

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Luke 18-19.

Leaving a Different Way!

Today, Ezekiel’s vision of a man with a bronze face giving him a tour of a new Temple ends, and the Book of Ezekiel comes to a close. The following verse stood out to me as the man with the bronze face finishes his tour with Ezekiel. But when the people of the land shall come before the Lord in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it. (Ezekiel 46:9, KJV)

This verse is full of great symbolism. It discusses how the worshippers of God enter the courtyard of the Temple one way but leave another; they do not leave the same way they came. What a fitting picture of God’s worship, an encounter with God, a relationship with God—it changes a person; they are not the same as they came! As I thought about this, the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1–7), the tax collector Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10), and the Apostle Paul (Acts 9:1–9, who at the time was called Saul) all came to mind as those who “left a different way” after meeting God. 

Only God has the power to transform someone’s life in this way. He takes sinners and transforms them into new creatures in Christ. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. … This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:15, 17, NLT) Yes, those who come to Christ leave a different way! Believer, rejoice that you have passed from the way of death unto the way of life—through Christ!

Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Ezekiel 46-48.