Lenten Devotions - Day 22
“A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns.” Luke 12:44
Jesus spoke a lot about being prepared. He talked of living with an eye on eternity, not just the moment. Meanwhile, he did not focus on eternity as a destination. He focused on eternity as a question of relationship and service. He wanted people to understand that eternity with God is a serious issue. He also stressed that eternity is tied to one's relationship with God and how that relationship impacts those around us. Faith is relational and includes transformation into servants of God Almighty.
Paul considers that in faith we are purchased by Christ and belong to God as servants—slaves who give their lives to Jesus as master. Consequently, there must be a change in the orientation of our lives. Our focus, direction, and ambition must shift from personal interests to God’s. We must exchange a run-of-the-mill acceptance of God for a commitment to serve God with all our resources. We are stewards of God's blessings, charged with the task of representing the One we call Lord.
Jesus had just told a parable about being ready for eternity by actively serving God. Peter responded with his penchant for sticking his foot in his mouth. “You don’t mean us, do you? We are your disciples. We are already set, right? We have our reservations for the messianic banquet in hand. Of all the people listening to you, we are the ones who have followed and stuck with you as disciples.”
All too often, we respond to Jesus like Peter. We need the prophet Nathan to come along to point his finger in our faces and say, “You are the one!” Jesus indeed included Peter and the other eleven. He included us, as well. We are all charged with faithful observance of God's will, guidance, and direction. We are all charged with stewardship of that with which God has entrusted us. Along with that charge comes the promise of further responsibility for those deemed faithful.
Perhaps many who sit in our pews would be in shock to find that heaven is not a vacation in paradise. From Jesus' words, we should rather expect heaven to be further opportunity to continue serving God in line with the service we are called to present on earth. We may be uncomfortable with the idea of serving through eternity, yet Jesus has more to say about eternity than that. By implication here, we are also to be granted opportunities to serve in relation to the faithfulness that has qualified our service to God on this side of eternity.
As we look at the important issue of preparing for eternity, we need to look at the preparation we make in our actions, habits, and service to God. Are we living in accord with God's plan for eternity, or are we anticipating a reality that is not to be? If our lives are not lived in faithful preparation for God's vision of eternity, what is the point of preparing for any alternative notion? God's call on our lives involves much more than our comfort, pleasure, and ambitions. Isn't it time we placed faithful service to God at the center of all we do?
Take an inventory of all God has entrusted to you. Find three ways to actively use God's provision as an extension of God's will, purpose, and presence.
“Lord, help me to see more clearly how you would use me for your purposes. Guide me in the way of service to your purposes instead of my own desires and ambitions.”
—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
Jesus spoke a lot about being prepared. He talked of living with an eye on eternity, not just the moment. Meanwhile, he did not focus on eternity as a destination. He focused on eternity as a question of relationship and service. He wanted people to understand that eternity with God is a serious issue. He also stressed that eternity is tied to one's relationship with God and how that relationship impacts those around us. Faith is relational and includes transformation into servants of God Almighty.
Paul considers that in faith we are purchased by Christ and belong to God as servants—slaves who give their lives to Jesus as master. Consequently, there must be a change in the orientation of our lives. Our focus, direction, and ambition must shift from personal interests to God’s. We must exchange a run-of-the-mill acceptance of God for a commitment to serve God with all our resources. We are stewards of God's blessings, charged with the task of representing the One we call Lord.
Jesus had just told a parable about being ready for eternity by actively serving God. Peter responded with his penchant for sticking his foot in his mouth. “You don’t mean us, do you? We are your disciples. We are already set, right? We have our reservations for the messianic banquet in hand. Of all the people listening to you, we are the ones who have followed and stuck with you as disciples.”
All too often, we respond to Jesus like Peter. We need the prophet Nathan to come along to point his finger in our faces and say, “You are the one!” Jesus indeed included Peter and the other eleven. He included us, as well. We are all charged with faithful observance of God's will, guidance, and direction. We are all charged with stewardship of that with which God has entrusted us. Along with that charge comes the promise of further responsibility for those deemed faithful.
Perhaps many who sit in our pews would be in shock to find that heaven is not a vacation in paradise. From Jesus' words, we should rather expect heaven to be further opportunity to continue serving God in line with the service we are called to present on earth. We may be uncomfortable with the idea of serving through eternity, yet Jesus has more to say about eternity than that. By implication here, we are also to be granted opportunities to serve in relation to the faithfulness that has qualified our service to God on this side of eternity.
As we look at the important issue of preparing for eternity, we need to look at the preparation we make in our actions, habits, and service to God. Are we living in accord with God's plan for eternity, or are we anticipating a reality that is not to be? If our lives are not lived in faithful preparation for God's vision of eternity, what is the point of preparing for any alternative notion? God's call on our lives involves much more than our comfort, pleasure, and ambitions. Isn't it time we placed faithful service to God at the center of all we do?
Take an inventory of all God has entrusted to you. Find three ways to actively use God's provision as an extension of God's will, purpose, and presence.
“Lord, help me to see more clearly how you would use me for your purposes. Guide me in the way of service to your purposes instead of my own desires and ambitions.”
—©Copyright 2009 Christopher B. Harbin http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/
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