When God Says …
“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:11-13 KJV).
The Lord Jesus, now nearing Jerusalem, tells the Parable of the Minas to correct the crowd’s perception that God's physical kingdom would come immediately. Those that follows Him expected instant establishment of an earthly, political kingdom and overthrow Roman rule. So, He tells them: keep "occupying till I come" in embracing the New Covenant of God’s unmerited favor, resting by faith in Him, and reign in life through His grace.
The story is about a nobleman going to a far country to receive a kingdom and then returns. Before leaving, he gives his ten servants ten minas (equal amount of money-representing grace, for each of them) and commands them to "do business till I come". In the context of grace, the minas are gifts given by the nobleman who represents the Lord Jesus. The ten servants (with the number 10 pointing to the ten commandments that shackled them in the law mindset), are to steward the gift of grace they received during his absence. “Doing business" or "occupying" until the Lord returns is not about striving for worldly and religious endeavors. It is about reaching out to all, sharing the gospel of the grace of God. The servants are expected to move away from law efforts, be transformed and spiritually reborn children of God in Christ. They are expected to behave as those who found and have grasped the message of truth. You and I, who are now set free from the world and religious systems, are to be occupied freely giving the gift of salvation by grace to all in our proximity both physically and the cyber space.
The Minas represent God’s grace given in equal measure to each one by God’s unmerited favor through faith. Our job is not to earn more grace, but to "trade or share" what we've already been given for others to believe and rest in it. This we do ‘til the our Lord Jesus Christ returns, keeping at heart the Lord’s words of oath, as it is written: “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” (Matthew 24:46-47 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment