Notice the emphasis on His Coming again. Consider: the Danger of Delay. It has been said there are 8 days in a week, not just 7. The 8th day is referring to that “some day” that doesn’t seem to come! (Such as “someday I’ll become a Christian”. Someday I’ll do this-or-that”.) Consider: the reward for Faithful service is Fellowship with the Master!”
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23
2 comments:
About the reading for today--I remember as a confirmation student we were supposed to use this passage for a a project (this was in another church) and I do not think that I fully understood this passage ( the one about the talents) until I came to Christ as a student of the Bible at BLB.
I used to think that it was about if God gives you something you are supposed to make the most of it. I was not cofusing talent as we know it with talents as refered here in this parable. But it seemed to fit-- we are supposed to make use of the gifts God gives us. However, as I grew older and in faith I wondered about this Bridegroom story i.e how does it fit with the talent story. I was left with a "dunno." Then it all became more clear. Jesus is talking about us being ready now or whenever because whether we are waiting for end times or our own passage from life to death, we cannot know when that will be. How should we be ready? One thing is clear, the talents are His word breathed into us through scripture and through Christ. He has given us his divine plan and we are meant to spread the gospel and not bury it. Yes- we are supposed to talk with those who shun Jesus and do not want to hear. We are supposed to be glorifiying God in every way we can muster.
I used to also wonder who he is talking about when he talks about the other virgins running around with their lamps not properly oiled up? Is it our friends who sort of believe, or are believers at Christmas and Easter but no other time of the year? Is it our friends who flinch if you begin to talk about faith in your life when you are out for lunch? Is it a culture that wants God stuff outside the walls of your profession and your career? And where are each of us at with God today, this minute, this hour?
Yes, He is asking us to be on the same page with Him, worshipping, reading, speaking with others, & proclaiming. It is hard to be PC in a world that wants us to just shut up about Jesus and go hide in our churches. But if we do that we are burying the voice God has given us.
Pray for courage each day in your walk through your neighborhood, with your friends, in your place of work that you can share Jesus in some way. Keep reading the scriptures each day. It is the oil in your lamp.
Thank you for sharing this insight. For so long I've been focusing on how my talents can be used for God's glory. Indeed, it is important to cultivate and use those "earthly" talents which He's graciously bestowed upon us to glorify Him. In the past, however, I've made it almost too much my focus (and put a lot of pressure on myself) to find that exact niche in which to perfectly use them. I felt like if I didn't figure out exactly how I was supposed to use my talents in a big way for Him, I was being lazy, irresponsible with God's gifts and less-glorifying to Him.
But I have realized that this all rather self-centered, focusing on how my OWN abilities and by my OWN power I can help further His kingdom. Indeed, He's already given us those "talents" that we need to invest in: His Word. From and through that springs all good things and good works (which He alone allows to be fruitful by His grace, not soley because of our own efforts). And He chooses how HE wants to use our "earthly talents", even if it doesn't line up exactly with our own idea of how they should be used. As our number-one focus, we should simply stay focused on Him: being daily in the Word, in prayer, memorizing Scripture... And the rest will fall into place as HE'S planned it. God is provident after all!!
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