“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.” (Luke 19:14 KJV).
In this passage, the Lord illustrates that the "citizens" representing the self-righteous religious Jews, the world’s religious system and the pagan world who reject Him. They reject His free gift of grace in favor of self-effort, the Law and doctrines of men. Their rebellious cry of rejection, "We will not have this man to reign over us," points to the modern world's rejection of God's unmerited favor. Worldly people prefer to rely on their own performance rather than having the Lord Jesus as their loving Savior. They assume the role of God on their lives.
The good news of the covenant of grace is, when the Lord Jesus reigns, He supplies His people with His righteousness and blessings. The citizens’ hatred stems from their being duped by the deception of the enemy of the soul using a worldly alternative in religion - represented by the Pharisees, priests and Sadducees, making people believe in a god other than the true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our God is the God of grace, not of rules. He is the God who loves us first so we can love Him the moment we yield to be loved by Him. The citizens of the far country represent the Lord’s fellow Jews and the world that rejected Him. This, therefore, reminds us to take lesson from this parable and be in the posture of acceptance to His love and reign.
It is of the utmost that we must be cognizant of His love, as it is written: “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:16-19 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.
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.
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