Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Luke 19:11-27
Set – Esther 9; Luke 19
Go! – Esther 9-10; Luke 19
Luke 19:11-27
11 The crowd has been listening to all this, and everyone assumes that the kingdom of God is going to appear at any moment, since He’s nearing Jerusalem. So He tells them this parable:
Jesus: 12 A ruler once planned a journey to a distant country to take the throne of that country and then return home. 13 Before his departure, he called 10 of his servants and gave them each about three months of wages. “Use this money to buy and sell until I return.” 14 After he departed, the people under his rule despised him and sent messengers with a clear message: “We do not want this man to rule over us.”
15 He successfully assumed kingship of the distant country and returned home. He called his 10 servants together and told them to give an account of their success in doing business with the money he had entrusted to them.
16 The first came before him and said, “Lord, I have made 10 times the amount you entrusted to me.” 17 The ruler replied, “Well done! You’re a good servant indeed! Since you have been faithful in handling a small amount of money, I’ll entrust you with authority over 10 cities in my new kingdom.”
18 The second came and said, “Lord, I’ve made five times the original amount.” 19 The ruler replied, “I’ll entrust you with authority over five cities.”
20 A third came and said, “Lord, I have successfully preserved the money you gave me. I wrapped it up in a napkin and hid it away 21 because I was afraid of you. After all, you’re a tough man. You have a way of taking a profit without making an investment and harvesting when you didn’t plant any seed.”
22 The ruler replied, “I will condemn you using your very own words, you worthless servant! So I’m a severe man, am I? So I take a profit without making an investment and harvest without planting seed? 23 Then why didn’t you invest my money in the bank so I could have at least gained some interest on it?” 24 The ruler told the onlookers, “Take the money I gave him, and give it to the one who multiplied my investment by 10.”
25 Then the onlookers replied, “Lord, he already has 10 times the original amount!”
26 The ruler responded, “Listen, whoever has some will be given more, and whoever doesn’t have anything will lose what he thinks he has. 27 And these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to rule over them—bring them here and execute them in my presence.”
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
Have you ever paid attention to the first and last of this parable? You’ve probably heard sermons and stories about the ruler who entrusted his wealth to his servants and they multiplied his riches according to their abilities. You’ve probably heard about the one who hid the master’s money and gained nothing during his master’s absence. You’ve probably heard the reprimade and punishment the servant received and how what was given to him was taken away and given to the one who multiplied the master’s money the best.
But have you ever paid attention to the first and last of this story? When the ruler went away, there were those who didn’t want the ruler to return because they despised him. And when the ruler returned from his conquest of another country, he called for those to be brought before him and executed.
There are those within the human race that despise Me despite My attempts to show them My love. Despite the fact that I created each of you and enable you to live and breathe each day. Many of you despise Me. Many of you despise Me because I give you rules to live by even though they protect you within a community and teach you to love as I love. Many of you despise Me because of your selfishness and your desire to satisfy your base instincts in ways that are harmful to the delicate balance of that provides good for all things within My creation.
I know what is best for all My creation and I know what is best for you. I gave you an established set of rules and commands to enable you to live together and care for My creation. I gave you a way to live abundantly. I even made a way to come back to Me when you were far from Me. I still love those who hate Me and want to live far from Me. But one day I will return and those who still despise Me will feel My wrath. I am a holy God and true to My word. My word tells you that those who do not follow Me will be punished eternally for their failure to recognize Me as their Lord and Master. Trust Me, you do not want to be in that group.
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