CHARACTER OF THE CHOSEN: SERVE THE LORD

Thursday, June 18,  2009

Matthew 25:31-40 >>
The Sheep and the Goats

31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40″The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

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1. Jesus’ family that is most dejected, are those who are are in need and are in less fortunate situations [verses 35-39]. This refers to people who are sick, in prison, are hungry and thirsty.

2. I have seen these people living in unfortunate circumstances around me, and I want to serve them more so I can help to meet their needs.

AM I RESPONSIBLE?

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Luke 12:42-48

42The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47″That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

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1. There are two types of servants in this parable. One is faithful in doing his master’s will, and the other is not. The other thinks his master is taking a long time and he goes off and parties and neglects and beats the other servants.
2. My leaders have entrusted me to do my work faithfully and enthusiastically. With the trust, I have room for improvement. Sometimes I forget about certain people I need to care about and things that need to be taken care of. I want to practice better time management, organization and initiative, as well as never departing from the Lord – remembering that HE is my source of strength and reason why I do what I do.
3. I do not want my motivation for fulfilling my responsibilities to be to please man. I want to always remember that it is for God and to bless His people as well. If I have any envy, annoyance, impatience, a belitteling attitude or bitterness I want to purge myself of those things so I can have a pure heart before the Lord. I need to remember that everything I do is purposeful.

Learn to Be Faithful in Little Things

Luke 16:10-14,
10″Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13″No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.

Matthew 25:21
21″His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

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1. I think those things that are considered little in my life are those things that people don’t see – for example, doing my devotions or how my personal time is with God–or things like being kind to other people or doing small responsibilities my parents have asked me to help them with. It’s also humbling myself in issues of offense and forgiveness.
2. I should treat things that belong to others that have been entrusted in my care as if it were my own, or maybe even better, lol. I want to make a commitment to treat it with quality care, including tasks and responsibilities.

Faithfulness is Demanded

Luke 12:42-48

42The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

 

 47″That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 

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1. The characteristics of a faithful person is that they fulfill their responsibility no matter whether or not anybody is there watching. They are faithful and true even when the master is not there. In this case, it’s even though we don’t know when Jesus is returning. This servant is steadfast in doing what they do and I believe wholeheartedly.  

2. It is important to be a faithful follower of Christ because God demands and expects nothing less. And also, because it is our duty and our right to be able to do so. 

3. I think I can be better at carrying out my responsibilities when nobody is looking. I want to make a new commitment to do God’s will.