daily devotion – as in the days of Noah
Luke 19:24 “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’
25 “‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
26 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
The man in this story told by Jesus had nothing in the end because of how he lived selfishly.
Paul tells us that at the end of our days we will be judged and rewarded by Christ – 1 Cor 3: 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
Every Christian has been given the same gospel deposit to invest. Regardless of our abilities, if we invest it, we will receive rewards far beyond reason or measure.
We each need to examine our hearts and ask ourselves are we investing the gospel? It’s not a question of giftedness but of faithfulness.
Are we using our finances to invest the Good News? Jesus minced no words about this matter – Luk 16:9 Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
Your money personally given to aid people in need or to promote evangelism and missions will win souls, eternal friends who will welcome you into Heaven.
How do you spend your time? We have so many opportunities to gather for Bible study, to encourage others to pray and yet many treat such things casually. Whereas in countries where such gatherings are against the law, or you risk death, people clamber to never miss being with God’s people.
Your personal calendar, Outlook, your daily planner on your phone reveals to you where your time is. It’s always where your heart is!
Everyone can make massive investments in the matter of prayer, but few do. Do our mouths, the things we say, invest testimony and witness?
There can never be such a thing as passive investment in the kingdom of God. Gospel investment requires action.
Mat 24:37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
This is the problem not only for the world but now the modern Church. Sadly much of the Church today has become indifferent to the things of God.
When one marries, the old single life ceases. When one receives Christ’s forgiveness and grace, the old selfish life ceases.
Jesus is coming soon. I wake every day waiting and expecting.
2 Peter 3: 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,