Daily Bread 11-10-16

Luke 19:20-24

20 And another came, saying, Lord, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takes up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou dost not sow

22 And he said unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow.

23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

24 And he said to them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

ref. - Job 15:6 - Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Matt 25:26 - His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou newest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

We can all say that the Lord has done great things in our lives. He has given us peace, health, prosperity, and, most of all, he has given us gifts that are useful to him. The scripture today deals with a lazy man, who would not get out and do anything that he was called to do but would rather make excuses. Each of the men who had been given the money were expected to make an increase. The first turned one pound into ten pounds, the second turned one into 5. They both received great rewards for their little faith. But the third, the one we are speaking of today, would not have anyone lording over him and he only produced the one pound that he was given. Now the Lord did not just tell them to hold the money for him, he told them to go out and make an increase so that when he came by there would be something profitable for him. The men could keep what they had and the Lord could get his in the increase. Now , if we look into our spiritual lives we can see the same desire in our Lord Jesus Christ. He has given us salvation. The greatest gift known to this world and it was free. He tells us to work our salvation, sanctifying our lives in the word of God. This becomes an example for others trying to serve him. He then tells us that when our lives are sanctified that he will enter us with his Holy Spirit. This will make us useful in spreading understanding and helping people along with serving God and staying within his will. Then he says we will receive gifts. Gift of healing, discernment, teaching, etc..... These things, as long as we work them, and keep moving, will all produce fruit when he comes for the harvest. When he comes to give us his attention there will be somewhat of an offering for him, and he will not only let us keep what we have been given but give us more. But if we get lazy, like many do, or satisfied with what we are doing or have done without desiring to do more, we will lose the great gifts that we have been given. There is no thing on this earth that should get in the way of what God has called us to do. Sometimes it is hard for us to do because we let the world get in our way, but we have been given the gift, now let's make an increase. It is not a suggestion that we must increase, it is a commandment. We start out with faith as a grain of mustard seed and it increases to be one of the strongest herbs. Even the branches of it providing shelter and protection. So, today, we must examine ourselves, and say this; With all that God has given me and I testify of, what am I capable of giving him back? Do I have fruit that is something sweet in smell and flavor for him to have? Or do I only have what he has given me and have done nothing to produce an increase? You see, he is not just looking for people to watch the combines roll when the harvest comes, he is looking for operators to drive the combines and trucks and haul the wheat into the barn. He is looking for planters to plant the seeds. Irrigators to water the seedling when they come out of the ground. I think the picture is clear. We each have a purpose in the kingdom of God but if we are given a waterpot to water, we must water until the plant produces fruit and is ready to harvest. If we are given the seed to plant, we must not only plant one crop, but replant after each harvest, preparing the ground and planting so that we may have a new crop year after year. If not, the waterpot will be taken from us and given to someone who is diligent enough to use it. Please look into your life today and either be producing or start producing something to offer our Lord when he comes with what he has given you!! If you do, you will soon see that he will give you more and more!!! Get out there and do it in Jesus' name and don't be the one who he calls lazy and disobedient, be the one to whom he says "well done my child"!!! Be the one that he created you to be!!! Have a great day!!!