Category Archives: Discipleship (the Blessings)

Something to Consider From Luke 20

August 15, 2019Discipleship (the Blessings), Effective in Ministrymartinpuryear

“If you could go back in time to observe just one historical event, what would it be?”

This is one of the ice-breaker questions we use in our small groups; and over the years some interesting answers have surfaced. Some were more “American” in nature: “the signing of the Declaration of Independence” … “the Battle at Gettysburg.” Others were more personal in nature: “the day my mother and father met.” And, of course, many were Biblical in nature: “creation” … “the parting of the Red Sea” … “the Crucifixion and Resurrection” (being the most common answer).

Certainly, all of those events would be fascinating to witness. Still, another event I would add to that list would be to observe the life of Jesus when He was growing up. It would be interesting to watch how His parents related to their perfect Child … and how His younger “half siblings” responded to their perfect Brother. (“Why doesn’t Jesus ever get in trouble!”) Did He play games with others His age; or was most of His free time spent reading the Scriptures in Nazareth’s synagogue? Perhaps most of His life – both at home and around town – was lived in the background, not calling attention to Himself.

Jesus, of course, did not start out as a fully developed adult male. We are told that the Son of God was clothed in humanity as a developing Fetus in Mary’s uterus (Luke 1:31). We also read that as He matured from childhood to adulthood, He “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). That is, Jesus went through all the mental and physical stages of human development … and He did so without sinning.

These stages of human development suggest the possibility that there was a time – during His infancy and early childhood – that a very young Jesus was not aware that He was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. (It is unlikely that the mind of the newborn King, lying in Bethlehem’s manger, had developed to that point.) But certainly, by the age of 12 He knew (Luke 2:42-49). Had Joseph and Mary told Him? Or did they wait for “an angel of the Lord” or the Spirit of God Himself to do so? And was this revelation gradual or in a moment of time? We do not know. But by whatever means His Divine status and calling were revealed to Him, can you imagine what that must have been like … to come to the realization that all the Messianic prophecies referred to Himself!

And what was it like for this young Teenager to attend synagogue every Sabbath, listening to the rabbi read passages foretelling of His coming Crucifixion and eventual reign over the nations, knowing (secretly) that He was that promised One! What was it like for Him to use a hammer and nails six days a week, week after week, year after year, knowing such passages as Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53? (We should not let that fact escape our notice. Every day of His life, while working in Joseph’s carpentry shop, our Savior was reminded of what lay ahead for Him. And yet, He remained faithful to the will of God His Father.)

Luke chapter 20 also adds to our understanding of Jesus’ younger life. From this chapter we can see that, while growing up, He spent hours upon hours immersing Himself in the Scriptures. Perhaps He went to the synagogue each day to read from the scrolls. Perhaps he spent a lot of time with the rabbi, asking him questions, listening to him teach. That is what we find Him doing in Jerusalem when He was twelve years old (Luke 2:46). Jesus invested 30⁺ years of His life cultivating His mind in knowledge and wisdom. And He used the Jewish Scriptures (what we call the Old Testament) to do so.

When His public ministry finally began, Jesus would draw from that insight and understanding considerably. After years of saturating His mind with Truth, He was ready to explain God’s Word to those who were hungry to receive It … and to reprove those who were just as determined to reject It. In His teaching Jesus was able to use reason, cite current events, create illustrations (parables) and quote from rabbinic commentaries. But the vast majority of His instruction included quotes from the inspired Scriptures.

Chief priests, scribes and elders: “We do not accept Your authority or Your teachings. Why should we? From Whom did You receive Your message?” (20:1-19)

His final answer came in the form of a parable (using a vineyard), followed by a prophetic passage: “Because I am the Son of the Father, I was sent with His authority. And I have come to claim My Kingdom. But you have already shown that you will not submit to My authority, just as it is written: ‘The Stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief Cornerstone.’ ” (Psalm 118:22)

Sadducees: “We intend to discredit the integrity of Your teaching; and we will do so using the doctrine of the resurrection. There is no such thing (as You say there is).” (20:27-40)

“It is you Sadducees who are mistaken. Did not Yahweh say to Moses, ‘I AM the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’? (Exodus 3:6) He did not say ‘I WAS their God’ but ‘I STILL AM their God.’ Contrary to what you teach, there is life after death. You do not know the Scriptures (the exchange at the burning bush), nor do you understand the power of God (to raise the dead).”

(Did you notice that the Master Teacher used the mere tense of a verb to prove the resurrection!)

Jesus then goes on the offensive. Through the vineyard parable, He had claimed to be the Messiah. Now He takes that assertion a major step forward: He states that He, the Messiah, is God Himself … fully Man and fully God. And once again, He uses the Scriptures to do so.

First, He quotes Psalm 110:1: “The LORD says to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’ ” Then Jesus does to His antagonists what they tried to do to Him … He silences them: “How can the Messiah be both David’s Son and his Lord at the same time?” (20:41-44)

By quoting just a few verses to answer His critics, Jesus claims to be both Israel’s Messiah and Israel’s God … the one true God … “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” … the “I AM” of the burning bush … Yahweh.

Without question, Jesus had an incredible mind! But He had more than that. According to Luke 20 (and, indeed, throughout the four Gospels), Jesus had an extraordinary command of the Scriptures. This suggests that, before His public ministry began, Jesus poured over the scrolls in Nazareth’s synagogue, probably from the time He first learned to read.

So, how can our lives reflect more accurately, more fully, more consistently the Living Word of God? By investing time in the written Word of God.

And how can we have an eternal impact in the lives around us? By saturating our minds with the Scriptures.

And how can our lives become more stable … more composed … more content … more joyful … more at rest? Through a daily reading of the Bible.

Not books about the Bible but the Bible itself. Most surely, we need to consult the counsel of godly men and women who, themselves, have been instructed over the centuries by the Spirit of God through the Word of God. But if we are so busy that we have time for only one read, then let us lay aside our devotionals and our small group Bible study workbooks and our commentaries and our online sermons and our blogs (including the ones on this site); and let our first and foremost read be the God-breathed, life-changing Word of God.

To do so is to make a daily investment in eternity itself.

Something to Consider From Luke 11

October 10, 2018Awakened to God’s Truth, Discipleship (the Blessings)martinpuryear

The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness … If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays. (Luke 11:34, 36)

I was living in Cocoa, Florida when I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. When I returned home to Tennessee that summer, the first thing my father did was hand me a paint brush and a bucket of red paint; and then he pointed me in the direction of our barn.

I had been saved for only a few days; so my appearance at that time did not resemble anything clean-cut and wholesome. In fact, I looked pretty much like all the other wandering transients down in Florida during the early 1970’s, wearing an old pair of overalls, a beat-up pair of tennis shoes, with my hair tied back in a pony tail, hanging down my back.

Anyway, there I was, standing on a ladder leaning against our barn, coating its rough boards with barn paint … and singing every single hymn I could remember from my boyhood. I would dip my paint brush in the bucket and paint a stroke or two while the lyrics flowed from my mouth:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”

But then – being stunned – I stopped singing (and painting) and thought out loud, “So that’s what that means!” And then, I continued:

“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see.”

But again – being amazed – I stopped singing (and painting) and thought out loud, “So that’s what that means!”

It was the very first “worship service” I ever attended as a re-born follower of Jesus Christ; and it took place while standing on a ladder painting a barn. It took a long time to paint that barn. The Spirit of God kept interrupting me, awakening my mind from its spiritual stupor. As He began to instruct me using these Truth-saturated hymns, I was hearing for the first time songs I already knew from memory.

It would be a year or so before I understood what had happened to me that summer in my little apartment in Florida … and what had taken place while standing on a ladder painting my father’s barn:

that it had been none other than the third Person of the Trinity Who rushed into my soul that night.

that by His magnanimous grace, He had made my spiritual senses responsive to the Word of God … sensitive … sharpened. He had made my “eye clear.”

and with that ability to receive God’s Truth came the capacity to finally understand His cleansing, life-changing counsel. Now, my “whole body (was) full of light” (understanding).

A miracle had taken place. A blind teenager had been given his sight. I was able to comprehend the Word of God. All the spiritual darkness that had confused my mind began to give way to a Holy Spirit-generated understanding, “as when the lamp illumines you with its rays.” Until then, I had never really heard the lyrics to those hymns I could sing from memory; but now, they began to come alive to me. And over the years, the meaning of God’s Word has become clearer … and Its significance to my life more and more wondrous.

“Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night.

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray.

I woke; the dungeon flamed with light.

My chains fell off; my heart was free.

I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

Amazing love!

How can it be that Thou, my God, should die for me!”

(“And Can It Be that I Should Gain,” Charles Wesley)

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Something to Consider From Luke 3

April 11, 2018Discipleship (the Blessings), Effective in Ministrymartinpuryear

“As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals.” (John the baptizer, as he prepared national Israel to receive their soon-to-arrive Messiah-King, Luke 3:16)

Over the years I have met a number of men and women of God whose lives and ministries radiated the power of God. They came from different backgrounds and cultures. They had different personalities and gifts and passions. And they were called to different ministries. But they all shared one thing in common:

not one of them had an air of self-sufficiency

I don’t think I’ve ever met an effective servant of Christ who had not first been broken. Each one’s confidence in the Lord was strong; but his self-assurance was gone. He is the kind of person who prays, “Why did You call me to do this? Who am I? I am not fit for this ministry!”

Actually, they are in good company:

“Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (Moses, after hearing God’s call to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, Exodus 3:10-11)

“O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” (Gideon, after hearing God’s call to deliver Israel from Midian’s oppression, Judges 6:15)

“Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.” (Paul, to the church in Corinth who questioned his calling as an apostle, 2^nd Corinthians 12:11)

The Lord has a good reason for bringing His servants to this point of self-doubt:

“My power is perfected in your weakness” (2^nd Corinthians 12:9)

It is one of the paradoxes of the spiritual life. When one thinks he is strong, he is actually quite weak. But when he thinks he is weak, he is in a position to be quite strong … in the Lord. Contrary to the world’s value system,

the LORD will not use us because we are mighty in ability.

There is just too much of us that will get in His way.

Nor will the LORD use us in spite of our weaknesses.

This sounds good; but that is not completely true. The LORD does not use us in spite of our weaknesses.

The LORD will use us because of our weaknesses.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” (1^st Corinthians 1:26-31)

It does not feel very good; but the fact is, our all-wise and sovereign God has every right to break us. Sometimes He uses sandpaper. At other times He uses a jackhammer. Either way, He has every right to do what it takes to empty us of our self-assurance

because in doing so, we are made more dependent on Him …

and being emptied of ourselves, we can now be filled with His power …

and by that power, our lives are better able to represent the Savior to a world that desperately needs to know Him …

and by that power, our ministries become more effective, more fruitful, more powerful.

Have you ever felt less-than-“fit” to serve Jesus Christ? If so, let’s not miss the reason why. We are not weak because God failed to make us strong. We are made weak that we might be filled with the power of God … for the strengthening of His people … to the glory of His Name.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2^nd Corinthians 12:10)

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Something to Consider From Luke 1

March 14, 2018Discipleship (the Blessings), Faithful in Stewardshipmartinpuryear

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;

and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”

And Mary said, “Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your Word.” (Luke 1:26-35,38)

Thus began one of the most mind-boggling commitments ever made by an individual. Have you ever reflected upon the magnitude of God’s calling upon Mary’s life?

Consider the announcement itself. An angelic being – sent by God – was the messenger. He informs her that she, a virgin, was about to become pregnant … but there would be no human father. The developing fetus within her uterus would be, in reality, the Son of the Most High God … Who, being clothed with flesh, was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, the Son of David … and His Kingdom would be eternal.

How could she possibly have comprehended the weight of this announcement! Mary must have been in a state of stunned wonder as she said “Yes” to the will of God. In fact, I don’t think she ever got over it, even to the day she breathed her last breath.

Nor do I think she fully grasped the consequences of her submission to the will of God. Have you ever tried to place yourself in Mary’s sandals? What effect do you think this calling had upon her life?

First of all, noticeably absent from the angel’s announcement was any mention of her betrothed husband Joseph. What would he think about all of this? She was given no guarantee that he would complete his marriage contract with her. As far as she knew, she could very well end up being a single mother. If so, she would be shunned for the rest of her life.

Indeed, under normal circumstances (apart from God’s protection) she would have faced the death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:13-14, 20-21).

As word spread throughout her small hometown-village that Mary carried an illegitimate child, her reputation was very likely shredded … and Joseph’s … and her family’s … and, for that matter, her Son’s. I have an idea that, during her pregnancy, she was called a lot of names in Nazareth. “The blessed virgin Mary” was probably not one of them.

Nine months later, Mary accompanied Joseph on a grueling trip to Bethlehem where she gave birth to the Child in what was possibly a cave-converted-barn, filled with the stench and filth of manure.

A few days later when the infant Jesus was taken to the Temple to be “presented to the LORD,” she was warned that her Son would cause division among the Israeli nation, resulting in the excruciating agony of her own soul (Luke 2:25-35). She would not have long to wait before witnessing the first of several attacks upon her Son’s life. One or two years after His birth, she and her husband had to flee from an assassination attempt made by Herod the king (Matthew 2:13-16)

Then, some 30 years later, she would observe the full force of that prophecy as she stood before her blood-drenched Son impaled to a Roman cross.

“Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your Word.”

Did Mary comprehend the full effect this pregnancy would have on her own life? Probably not. Nevertheless, her ready submission to the call of God revealed the commitment of one who truly had the heart of a bond-slave, an attitude she probably had long before she was addressed by the angel.

Can you imagine what it must have been like when this extraordinary woman breathed her last breath and found herself in the presence of God’s promised glory … bowing before the One she had birthed … the Son she and Joseph had so diligently nurtured and protected … the Creator of the universe … her God and Savior … the radiant King of glory?

I wonder what He said to her about her faithfulness to God’s calling upon her life.

It makes me wonder what He will say to me about mine.

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An Appeal

August 3, 2017Discipleship (the Blessings), Faithful in Stewardshipmartinpuryear

It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

So teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:12)

If you would like to know what a person believes about the future, observe how he lives in the present. If someone tells you that he believes Krispy Kreme Doughnut stock is going to quadruple in value by this time next week, then take note: Is he buying as many shares of Kripsy Kreme Doughnut stock as he can afford … or no?

According to the Scriptures, what we believe about the future will have a great influence on how we live in the present.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1^st John 3:2-3)

As the brevity of life becomes more and more apparent with each passing year, he who is wise will live more fervently, not for a world scheduled to be destroyed but for an eternity that is fast approaching.

LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days. Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.” (Psalm 39:4-5)

Today, you and I are one day closer to appearing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Whether we are removed from this earth by the Rapture or by death, we are that much closer to bowing before the Son of God. We are one day closer to giving an account of our stewardship.

It is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed … But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Romans 13:11, 14)

To be prepared for our approaching evaluation, we must be able to present a life of faithful character and service when Christ asks to hear our account of what we did with His property:

“What did you do with the time and the resources and the abilities and the strength and the opportunities … I entrusted into your care … to prepare yourself and others for eternity … to the glory of My Name?”

Beloved friends, we do not have the luxury – or the right – to foolishly squander our fleeting lives on the temporal affairs of a dead world. Most certainly, the race we have been called to run will prevent us from being “in sync” with all the Jones’s out there. But the reality of our situation is this: We each have only one heart. We do not have two. We can have, therefore, only one devotion … only one all-consuming passion. We cannot have two. It is impossible to pursue the glitter of fool’s gold that so enamors this spiritually-dead world and be faithful to Christ at the same time.

Therefore, let us look down the track and set our gaze upon the finish line. Do you see “the joy set before (you)”?

How immense that joy will be to find ourselves in the smiling Presence of our glorified Master!

How glorious it will be to receive from His hand an imperishable reward!

How satisfying it will be to hear that wonderful greeting,

“Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Master!”

Just imagine what it will be like to cross the finish line! I have an idea that, at that moment, we will fall before our Savior, grab hold of His wound-scarred feet, and weep with gladness.

And so, with this eternal perspective, let us all

… lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

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Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

The Stewardship of Truth

June 7, 2017Discipleship (the Blessings), Faithful in Stewardshipmartinpuryear

In the “Parable of the Soils” (Luke 8:4-18), a farmer is shown planting a crop by casting his seed upon the ground. This seed falls upon four different kinds of soil: hardened, rocky, thorn-infested, and good. The hardened soil prevented the seed from taking root. The rocky soil was too shallow to hold moisture. The thorn-infested soil choked the crop from growing. But the good soil provided the fertility that seed needs to take root and flourish. Only one kind of soil could produce a crop. The other three could not.

Jesus then explained the meaning of this parable: The seed is the Word of God. The sower represents the one who rightly explains God’s Word to others. The four “soils” represent four different kinds of hearts responding to God’s Word in four different ways. Of these four hearts, three bear no fruit (i.e., they do not respond in true faith and obedience). Only the fourth – “an honest and good heart” – holds fast the Word and bears fruit with perseverance.

Most certainly, the sower can refer to today’s preachers and teachers explaining God’s Word to their audiences. In this particular setting, however, Jesus is probably referring to Himself as “the Sower,” the seed referring to the presentation of Himself as Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, and the four soils as being the Jewish nation’s different responses (mostly rejection) to His offer.

After the parable is finished, Jesus then challenges the hearer / reader with a caution:

So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given;

and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him. (Luke 8:18)

It is the context that helps us understand this verse:

For whoever has a living faith that motivates him to respond to God’s Word in faith and obedience, to him more understanding shall be given;

and whoever does not have a living faith that motivates him to respond to God’s Word in faith and obedience, even what understanding he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.

Dear friends, God’s Truth is a stewardship with which you and I have been entrusted:

If we respond to God’s Word with faith and obedience, we will be blessed with an increased capacity to understand and apply even more of God’s Word. Why? Because we have shown ourselves to be wise and faithful stewards of the Truth we possess. The Lord can trust us with more.

But if we have no intention of doing anything with the Truth we know, our capacity to understand God’s Word gradually decreases. We become “dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:11). Why? Because we have proven ourselves to be foolish, unfaithful stewards of the Truth we know. We cannot be trusted with more.

This dulled sensitivity to Truth is the worst condition in which an individual can find himself. It is worse than cancer. It is worse than paralysis. It is worse than prison. It is worse than the loss of a loved one. All of these involve the physical body and the emotions. And as grievous as these conditions would be, they are, nevertheless, temporal in nature. But the inability to understand the Scriptures affects the soul; and the soul is eternal. If a person cannot understand the Scriptures, then he cannot believe them. And if he cannot believe God’s Word, he cannot obey God’s Word. It is, in fact, the most dangerous of situations.

If he is lost, he will remain lost. How can one be saved if he does not understand the Gospel?

If he is saved, his own spiritual growth will be stunted,

His life will be a detriment to the reputation of God,

His personal witness to a lost world will not present a clear picture of the Savior they need to know,

His local church will suffer from his immaturity,

And he will suffer eternal loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

That is why the Lord Jesus added this warning:

So take care how you listen. (Luke 8:18)

Bible study is risky business. It demands a response. It will produce either a joyous reward or a grievous loss depending on whether we are doers of God’s Word or mere hearers. What we learn, we are responsible for. So, the bottom-line question we should all be asking ourselves is

What am I doing with the Truth I already know?

Am I responding to It in faith and obedience?

There is coming a day when we will be ushered into the presence of Christ Jesus. This will be one of the subjects of that conversation. If we give ourselves to this pursuit, we can look forward to seeing the smile on our Master’s face and hearing these longed-for words:

“Well done, good and faithful servant!”

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Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)

The One Who Has … and the One Who Doesn’t

May 3, 2017Discipleship (the Blessings), Faithful in Stewardshipmartinpuryear

You are the owner of a large business. The nature of your business demands prompt delivery of its goods to local manufacturing companies. This business is so large that it has two warehouses, each having its own manager.

Over the course of time you notice that the manager of warehouse # 1 always ships each order on the day it comes in.

The manager of warehouse # 2, however, is indifferent toward the need for punctuality. More times than not, the goods are shipped two, three, sometimes four days after the orders are received.

One day, you receive an order for goods that, if delivered on time, will result in many large orders from this company. Otherwise, you will lose all their business. To which warehouse manager would you entrust this shipment?

In one of His parables, Jesus tells us which manager He would choose.

THE STEWARDSHIP OF SERVICE

For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. (Matthew 25:29)

What does this verse mean? “Everyone who has” what? And “more” of what “shall be given” him? What does the second one “not have”; and what exactly “shall be taken away” from him?

Matthew 25:29 is a verse imbedded within the “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-30). This story describes the stewardship of three slaves who were given certain responsibilities to perform during the absence of their master. The first two slaves were faithful to the responsibility entrusted to them; the third slave proved to be irresponsible. When the master returned, he rewarded the first two slaves, but he reprimanded – and then expelled from his presence – the third slave.

The timing of this parable is quite interesting. The nation of Israel as a whole – and the Jewish religious leaders in particular – had rejected Jesus as their Messiah-King. Knowing that the Day of His Crucifixion was very near, Jesus used the remaining time He had to prepare His followers for His absence. A part of that preparation is found in this “Parable of the Talents.”

In this parable Jesus informed His disciples that there would be an interval of time between His departure (Ascension) and His Return (Second Coming). During this interval His followers would be entrusted with certain responsibilities. Each slave was expected to use his God-given resources to promote his Master’s interests. Upon His Return, they would then be summoned to give an account of their stewardship.

The parable ends with both a promise of blessing and a warning of loss. Once their stewardship has been evaluated, those who were faithful to the Master are given greater responsibilities in His Kingdom. Those who were not faithful to Him suffer great loss. And then, our verse appears:

For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. (Matthew 25:29)

It is the context that fills in all the blanks:

For to everyone who has a living faith that motivates him to faithfully serve his Master, more Kingdom-responsibilities shall be given, and he will have an abundance of authority and honor;

but from the one who does not have a living faith that motivates him to faithfully serve his Master, even what responsibility he does have shall be taken away from him.

You and I have been entrusted with the stewardship of service in the name of Christ. The question we need to ask ourselves is this:

Am I using my God-entrusted resources to serve my Master?

It is a worthy consideration. There is coming a day when every believer will bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. And when we do, we will be called upon to give an account of our stewardship. If we were faithful to that responsibility, we can look forward to seeing the smile on our Master’s face and hear His words of praise:

“Well done, good and faithful servant!”

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To Him Who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no man has seen or can see … to Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. (1^st Timothy 6:15-16)

Casting Our Crowns Before the Throne of God

April 5, 2017Discipleship (the Blessings), Humble in Worshipmartinpuryear

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! (Revelation 5:12)

Much of the New Testament’s last letter, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, describes what will take place in heaven and on earth immediately preceding the Return of Christ (chapters 4-19). In this letter “to the seven churches that are in Asia,” the Apostle John describes an event that will take place sometime after the Judgment Seat of Christ. The scene involves twenty-four elders, sitting upon twenty-four thrones, all of which encircle the throne of God.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads …. (Revelation 4:4)

Based upon this description, it is the belief of many Bible students that these twenty-four elders represent redeemed saints. They are described as being “clothed in white garments” (they have been made spotless and pure by the blood of Christ). They are sitting upon thrones encircling the Throne of God (they are reigning with Christ). And they are adorned with “golden crowns upon their heads” (they have been rewarded for being faithful stewards).

It is my belief that these are literal crowns. If that is true, then a certain worship service is scheduled to take place in heaven’s Throne Room. We are told that, during this particular ceremony, the redeemed ones will remove their crowns and cast them before the throne of God.

The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne. (Revelation 4:10)

But why will they do this? Why will the saints – having been rewarded for their faithfulness – cast their crowns at the feet of Christ?

In this one act, the saints are officially confessing two truths regarding the fruitful labor for which they have been rewarded:

Jesus Christ deserves all the credit.

Jesus Christ deserves all the glory.

Jesus Christ Deserves ALL the Credit for Our Crowns

For the saints to cast their crowns before the throne of God is to publicly acknowledge Christ’s right (and His alone) to wear those crowns. At this time they will “give credit where credit is due.” During their lives, these believers had faithfully represented Christ to the world in both character and service. But the ability to do so had not been generated by their own will and power but, instead, by the will and power of God.

I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed. (Romans 15:18)

Most surely, we do not deserve the credit for these crowns. We will cast them before the throne of God because that honor rightfully belongs to Him: to the One Who called us into His service … Who equipped us with everything we needed to fulfill that calling … Who accomplished through us what He gave us to do … and Who rewarded us with eternal life … and with words of praise … and with positions of authority within His eternal Kingdom … and with the capacity to shine forth the blazing glory of God!

When the saints cast their crowns before the throne of Christ, their declaration is this:

“You, and You alone, deserve to wear these crowns!”

Jesus Christ Deserves ALL the Glory for Our Crowns

Furthermore, for the saints to cast their crowns before the throne of God is an act of worship. Because the work was not really theirs but His, Christ Jesus has the right to receive all glory and honor and power.

And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power.” (Revelation 4:9-11)

With this one act, the saints are declaring the worth of the generous One Who is so willing to share His life, His praise, His authority and His glory with those who had submitted themselves to His rule over their lives.

Dear friends, this is the kind of God we serve.

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Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1^st Timothy 1:17)

The Apple Farmer’s Steward

March 1, 2017Discipleship (the Blessings), Faithful in Stewardshipmartinpuryear

It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. (1^st Corinthians 4:2)

There was once a man who owned an orchard. In this orchard were ten apple trees. One day in early spring, the man left town to go on a long trip. But before he left, he told one of his field hands to take care of his orchard in his absence.

Each day the field hand was careful to cultivate the owner’s orchard. He kept the surrounding ground aerated and watered. And at the proper times, he fertilized the root system with just the right ratio of nutrients.

As the summer passed, however, the field hand became greatly troubled because he saw absolutely no fruit. Not one apple. Week after week, the worker faithfully cultivated the trees. But that fall, there were still no apples to be seen. “Surely, my boss will not be pleased with me,” he thought.

Word came that the owner’s absence was to be extended. “Whew!” said the worker. “Perhaps next fall, there will be a harvest of apples.” And so, the next spring he got an early start. He aerated. He watered. He fertilized. He covered the trees to prevent damage from a late freeze. He prevented insects and disease from harming them. But that fall there were, once again, no apples.

Each year, the owner’s absence was extended. And each year the field hand carefully cultivated the orchard. Yet, there were never any apples. Finally, after seven years, the owner returned. One by one, each worker was called into his office to give an account of their assigned tasks. Expecting to be fired, the field hand packed his suitcase and, with hat in hand, walked into his employer’s office. But to his utter amazement, his boss praised him! And promoted him! And gave him a raise!

And that next fall, there were ten apple trees with branches weighed down with hundreds upon hundreds of bright, red, juicy apples.

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There is coming a day when every reborn Christ-follower will bow before the Judgment Seat of God. And there his level of faithfulness will be evaluated. Concerning that appointment, I have never met a believer who did not want to hear his Master say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant”

But if that is what we want to hear, there is something we need to come to grips with. For faithfulness to be dyed into the fabric of our souls, situations must exist that tempt us to give up … to throw in the towel … to quit being and doing what Christ has given us to be and do. This is the reality of stewardship. It is impossible to cultivate faithfulness without going through trials that demand perseverance.

To be aware of that fact goes a long way in understanding why troubles … and weariness … and circumstances that don’t make any sense are so vital to the Christian life. It explains why God (seems to be) so slow and so silent and so aloof at times.

One thing that tends to discourage us is a certain false expectation. We have been promised that those who remain in intimate fellowship with God through faith and obedience – those who “abide” in Christ – will bear “much fruit.”

I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

The false assumption we have is that we will see that fruit. But when Jesus said that fertile soil will yield a crop “some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty,” He did not assure the sower that he would see these results in full, at least on this side of the Resurrection. Maybe he will. But more than likely he will not. And if he does not, he will be in very good company. Many missionaries have ministered on the field for 20, 30, some even 40 years, yet do not live to see most of the fruit of their labors.

In fact, I don’t think I have ever met an effective servant of Christ that has not asked himself at one time or another,

“Am I really doing any good?”

“Should I continue to languish in this ministry that’s ‘going nowhere’ when every fiber of my being tells me to ‘throw in the towel’?”

His labor has been skillful. His motive has been Christ-centered. But as far as he can tell, he is having little impact in the lives of those he serves. And this continues on and on and on until, finally, he just wants to give up.

It is at this point that the bond-slave must ask himself a question … a “bucket-of-cold-water-in-the-face” kind of question:

How many lives must I see impacted by my ministry before I can be faithful to my calling? The answer, of course, is “None.” That’s because

Faithfulness has nothing to do with results

There are some things that can only be forged on an anvil. Perseverance is one of them. This trait does not come quickly; nor does it come easily. Faithfulness is not tempered by the laborer seeing the full impact he is having in the lives of others. To the contrary, it can only be strengthened when few, if any, results are seen. Steadfastness is fortified when the laborer doggedly remains in a stagnated situation because he knows that is where his Master wants him to be … and that’s the only reason he stays.

During those times, let us be fully convinced of what is taking place in our lives:

the Father is cultivating our faithfulness by stretching our endurance.

I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vine-dresser. Every branch in Me that … bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:1-2)

To whom, then, should we turn for the spiritual “grit” needed to endure this confusing and often discouraging – but necessary – pruning? To the One Who,

for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2b)

Therefore, let us not give up. Let us not throw in the towel. Let us not lose sight of “the joy set before us.”

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2a)

Those “flat” periods of anguish and confusion that exist in the lives of those who want to please their Master with their lives and service will be well worth every prayer that was poured out and every tear shed. And at the finish line, each of these faithful ones will hear his Master say,

“Well done good and faithful slave”

And he will savor that praise throughout eternity.

And eternity is a long, long time.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1^st Corinthians 15:58)

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9)

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Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ … that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2-4)

Telephone Booths and Typewriters, Slide Rules and Cassette Tapes

June 1, 2016Discipleship (the Blessings), Steadfast in Trustmartinpuryear

Have you ever noticed how an older generation seems to get stuck in something of a “time rut”? With hearts filled with nostalgia, they really do believe that those of a younger generation should appreciate – perhaps, even relive – the same things they enjoyed during their youth … 30 years ago.

For instance, my parents actually thought that my sister and I would be interested in listening to Glenn Miller’s “A String of Pearls” (released in 1941) while we were trying to listen to our new album, “Meet the Beatles” (released in 1964).

And before I left for college in the early 1970’s, my father tried to convince me that I was going to need his white dinner jacket to wear to all the “college dances.” Was he serious? … as if I were going to wear a white dinner jacket to a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band concert!

Well, as to be expected, this same longing for “the good ‘ol days” has now spread from the generation of the Depression to the generation of the Baby Boom. More and more, postings appear on Facebook that go something like this:

“If you know what this is, click ‘Like’ ” … followed by a picture of a telephone booth or an electric typewriter or a slide rule or a 33^1/3 vinyl album or an 8-track tape player or a cassette tape … all cutting-edge technology at the time.

“If you can remember doing this, click “Like” … followed by a description of what it was like to wait for the television tube to warm up before the picture gradually appeared … or to catch lightning bugs outside after dark until called in … or to wear a Davy Crockett coonskin cap.

But, of course, the only ones who appreciate the nostalgia of an era gone by are those of that same generation. Younger people are just too busy creating their own future “yesteryears” to care about ours.

There is a lot of truth to the saying, “The only thing that is permanent is change.” But there is at least one Exception to that rule; and His Name is El Olam, the everlasting, unchanging God … the One Who remains the same from one generation to the next.

Do we realize what this means? It means that the One to Whom Old Testament Israel looked to meet their every need is the same One to Whom the New Testament Church can look to meet our every need.

It means that “the LORD” (Yahweh) – the self-existent Creator before Whom Moses stood – still knows exactly what we need … and what we do not need … to be His effective servants.

It means that “the LORD” (Yahweh) – the God Who is faithful to the Covenant He made with Abraham and his descendants – will faithfully keep every single promise He has ever made to us as well.

It means that “the LORD Who sanctifies you” (Yahweh Meqaddishkem) – the holy One of Israel – will set us apart from a sinful lifestyle to live righteously as well.

it means that “the LORD is my Banner” (Yahweh Nissi) – Israel’s Banner of Truth – is the One around Whom we also can rally to overcome our three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil.

It means that “the LORD (Who) provides” (Yahweh Yireh) – Abraham’s gracious Sustainer – will meet all our needs as well as we worship Him with hearts full of devotion.

It means that “the LORD of hosts” (Yahweh Sabaoth) – Israel’s watchful Defender – will dispatch His massive army of angelic-warriors to defend and minister to us as well.

It means that “the Lord” (Adonai) – Israel’s revered and loving Master – will seek our highest good as well, guiding us and sustaining us as we seek to do His will.

It means that “God” (Elohim) – the all-powerful One – will also answer all of our prayers that conform to His will … and will transform our lives into the likeness of Christ … and will fulfill every promise He has ever made to us.

It means that “God Almighty” (El Shaddai) – Abraham’s all-sufficient God – will also provide the nourishment we need to enable us to grow strong and fruitful.

It means that “the God who sees” (El Roi) – Israel’s all-knowing and ever-present Help – will provide us with strength and encouragement when we, too, are forsaken by others.

It means that “God Most High” (El Elyon) – Abraham’s supreme Sovereign – will also re-direct our hearts away from living for this world to focus on the eternal kingdom of the King of kings.

Yes, it is true: all flesh, like grass, withers. And like the flower, the glory of man fades. Generations come and go, none of which being an exact duplicate of the others. Kings and kingdoms rise and fall. Even the present heavens and earth will one day give way to a new heaven and a new earth. But there is at least one Exception to this rule of change.

His Name is El Olam. He is the everlasting, unchanging God.

I, the LORD, do not change. (Malachi 3:6)

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To the readers within the believing community: My wife and I would greatly appreciate your prayers, that we would respond to adversity with grace and righteousness.