Called to Gather, Pray, and Worship
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Pondering Point
This is clearly one of those “blessed to be a blessing” times. What is prayed for is a blessing to be equipped to do God’s will, having Him work in us whatever pleases Him – and to permit it all happen through Jesus so that the Godhead is glorified. What would this blessing look like fulfilled in your life? Write it down. Seek this blessing for yourself and others in prayer and life. Let it be!
The Parable of the Minas
Luke 19:11-27
Jesus uses this parable to describe faithful and unfaithful servants. Some servants put the Master’s money (“talents”) to work and bring back a big return with what they invested. Another does nothing and suffers an inglorious encounter with his master.
Go through the parable mentally as the first risk-taking servant and imagine the emotions and thoughts you would experience while having this conversation with your master. Don’t envision the master as Jesus, just the newly-crowned king in the story. Continue the mindset as you see the master deal with your fellow servants. Note your reactions.
Then go through the parable again but seeing yourself as the unfaithful servant. Again note your reactions to the master’s treatment of the those faithful servants building up to your unfortunately encounter. Let it sink in. Then have a conversation with the author of this parable (not Luke but Jesus).
Luke 19:11-27
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”