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Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Great passage to start the day, right?

Every week we put worthless items in our trash can and put the can out on the curb to be picked up and taken to the dump.  The items inside…rarely are given a second thought.

When we are done with something, or an item has lost its usefulness, it is cast out.

But to hear about a person being treated like worthless trash?

The statement gets our attention.

In our culture today, the ability to allow justice to prevail and harsh consequences to come on an individual, is almost unheard of.  It is espoused as unloving.  Excuses are made for the bad behavior.  Justice at times assigns the most minimal consequence possible.

So to have JESUS of all people call someone in his parable “Worthless” and script the orders to “throw out” the servant seems contrary to all we would like to think of Jesus as loving and accepting of any behavior.

But that’s not true…and it’s not Jesus.

To be sure, Jesus is more than willing to show mercy and give individuals opportunity for repentance and a change of heart and mind.  The Bible is full of individuals whom God forgave and gave another chance to serve him and add value to his kingdom (think of David, Saul/Paul, Peter, and more).

So what would lead to such a harsh condemnation of this servant?

The condemnation wasn’t arbitrary.  The condemnation was earned.

Permit a bit of conjecture along with the details of the parable. (Refer to Matthew 25:14-30 from yesterday.)

The Master distributed HIS talents according to the SERVANT’s ability.  While the amount of talents given not as consequential to what the servants chose to do with them, the fact that one was given five (according to his ability) and this servant was given one (according to his ability) perhaps indicates this servant has had a bit of a poor record of handling his Master’s property and affairs.  Yet, the Master was willing to invest in him one more time.  The servant was given ONE talent to use as the Master desired it to be used…to bring a return.

The servant KNEW the Master was “a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed” (Matthew 25:24). What strikes me is the other two servants did not characterize the master this way, yet had the same master.  Whether the other two would characterize the Master that way or not is not said, but it seems the servant who said this felt burdened and resistant to the way the Master operated.  He did not revel in his role as servant, just saw the burden of being a servant to a Master he perceived as unjust and demanding.

The servant in fear HID the talent and did NOTHING with it…not even put it on deposit.

So, did the Master have a right to give a very dishonorable discharge to this servant?  Yes.

The servant was unfaithful to his Master.  He seems to have a persistent record of not being faithful in his stewarding of the Master’s affairs.  He seems to have a heart that carries more animosity and resistance to the Master than respect and love for the Master.  He refused to even try to carry out the words of his Master.  

So he lost the opportunity to serve the Master again.

Unfaithfulness is exhibited by a pattern of refusing to follow the direction of our heavenly Father.  Unfaithfulness comes when our heart has resistance and animosity to the Father who loves us and trusts us with a portion of his estate.  Unfaithfulness is when we refuse to carry out the role of servant in God’s kingdom, and refuse to put what God has given to us to work for the benefit of the kingdom of God.

The harsh ending of Jesus’ parable is a call to repentance to moments, seasons, or a lifetime of unfaithfulness.  

Would the Master have welcomed the servant back if there was repentance and a request for forgiveness?  I would guess so.  But there was no repentance.  And where there is no repentance, there is no application of forgiveness.

Perhaps today is not a message of encouragement, but a call to repentance.  We need that as well.  Repentance leads to forgiveness. Just as the justice of God will throw out the worthless servant, so the mercy of God will restore the repentant sinner.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Apply: Take time today to repent of unfaithfulness, seek God’s forgiveness and the Spirit’s help to engage faithfully as a servant of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times and seasons of unfaithfulness in my life.  As I recognize what my sin deserves, I seek your mercy to cover my unfaithfulness with the faithful life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 9 of “Fan or Follower – Be Faithful!”  (LISTEN HERE).

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“Just be faithful!”

“As long as you are faithful.”

These phrases I have heard often at pastor’s conferences when a brother shares ministry struggles and how things from an outward perspective are not going well.  The common answer that I think was supposed to “soothe the soul” was, “As long as you are being faithful.”  This phrase, honestly, was confusing and not comforting.  

In ministry, we understand that “success” is not simply measured by meeting the budget, attendance, or annual growth.  We understand that the return on the Gospel is governed by the Holy Spirit who blows when and where he wishes.

So “just be faithful” his hard to measure…for a pastor…perhaps for everyone.

Yet, we are encouraged, “Be faithful!” (Revelation 2:10)

So perhaps the devotions this week are more for me than for you, reader.  But my desire is that together we can discover what faithfulness is and looks like in our lives, as that IS what the Lord desires, but ISN’T always what we exhibit.

Jesus tells us a parable about faithfulness in Matthew 25:14-30.  Perhaps this morning I am going to invite you to read this parable through a few times and simply ask the question, “What does faithfulness and unfaithfulness look like?

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “ ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Apply: Would you be willing to share your thoughts on faithfulness and unfaithfulness?  Email pastorgeiger@gmail.com.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your perfect faithfulness to us.  Lead us by your Spirit to both understand and live faithfully for you! AMEN.

Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

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No one knows better the importance of being ready and being prepared than our men and women of our armed forces.  As we honor our Veterans today, we remember the countless hours they spent training, practicing, and learning to be ready at a moment’s notice to be sent into combat to protect our country.  Thank you to all who have and are serving each of us every day.

Vigilance and preparedness are key to victory in battle.  How many victories have been won when one group of soldiers surprises another?  Surprise attacks have a history of being successful because they catch the opposition asleep.

As we engage in life, we don’t want to be caught sleeping.  Although it gets tiring to always be on the ready, it is a must.  

Wednesday’s devotion (sorry I missed Thursday due to travel…and not getting one done ahead of time!), reminded us the key component of being ready is trust in Jesus as Savior and learning and following his Word.

What Jesus then encourages is for us to live each day with the expectation of his return, not in laziness, but in activity.

Jesus put it this way:

Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The Apostle Paul put it like this:

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Life takes on a different focus and purpose.  Life is given fully to the Lord so that all I do every day is done to his glory.  I view my time and treasures and talents as gifts entrusted to my by the Lord for use in his kingdom work.  I realize that life is not about me, but compelled by the love of Christ, I live for Christ, not myself.

Perhaps it’s just being ALIVE…Always Living In View of Eternity…ALIVE.

WIth faith in our hearts, and God’s Word in our lives, we watch and wait…but while we watch and wait, we live for the Lord…every day! AMEN.

Apply: What changes today when you are ALIVE…Always Living In View of Eternity?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the men and women who serve us by serving our country.  Let them know their effort matters so that we can live freely and fully for you, each day as we wait with eager anticipation for your return.  AMEN.

Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

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“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 

Keeping watch and being prepared are hard work.

When you know something is going to happen or someone is going to arrive, it is easier to be prepared and to watch for their arrival.  For example, if you are having family over for Thanksgiving and you know that they are going to arrive on Wednesday before between 5 & 6pm, you know the things you have to do to be ready (wash the sheets, clean the guest room, etc.)  Then on that Wednesday, you begin watching for them around 4:45 and within 60 minutes or so, your watching is done…they arrived!

However, if those same relatives said, “We’re going to come for a visit, but we don’t know when and we’re not sure when we will show up,” you may quickly lose any anticipation or preparedness.  The guest room will accumulate a few boxes that need to be stored.  The cats will find a place to nap and leave some extra fur.  The room will be “ok” but not “ready.”  And, you aren’t going to wait around for them.  You go to work, school, run errands, etc. because while you know they will show up sometime, you aren’t going to pause life to wait around.

So it is with Christ’s return.

It’s easy to forgo the effort to be ready.  It’s common to surmise “He’s not coming today.”  

We’d much rather have the exact time and day.  Then we can carry on life and give ourselves enough time to bolster our faith and engage in activity that blesses the kingdom of God.

Perhaps this is why when someone of some prominence predicts the end of the world, people latch on to it.  It gives them a day to plan for and prepare for.

Yet, none of those have come true and so we wait.  We watch.  We remain vigilant.

Why? Because there are regular indications the time could be any time. 

Jesus gave us hints of what to look for:

Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

So the daily news is a daily reminder that today Jesus could return.

So how are we ready?

Again Jesus highlights two things: Confident trust in him as your Savior and dedication to hearing his Words in the pages of the BIble.

John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

I wish we had the day and time.  But we don’t. So today we must be vigilant and be ready!

Apply: What is one thing you can do today to strengthen your faith in Jesus or build your awareness and trust of his truth in the Bible?

Prayer:  Lord thank you for not telling me when you will return.  I would probably push off my relationship with you and not enjoy it every day.  Help me to always stay prepared and ready to meet you when you return.  AMEN.

Watch Sunday’s Sermon – Week 8 of “Fan or Follower – Keep Watch!”  (LISTEN HERE).

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Today is election day.

Yesterday I listened to a podcast on the question, “Should a Christian get involved in politics?” on the website https://crossexamined.org/.  The podcast is worth listening to.

The short answer is, “Yes!”

Why? (Some of these are borrowed from the podcast.)

1. It is an opportunity to love your neighbor.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

One of the two great commands God has given to us is to love our neighbor.  The laws that are passed by our nation have a direct and indirect impact on people and their well-being.  By voting and being involved in politics, we have opportunity to put into office those that would promote and protect the lives of people.  We can help to protect the lives of unborn in a personal way, but laws to protect the unborn are loving to the unborn.  Youth are being bombarded with gender confusion and given a smorgasbord of gender options when there are only two genders given at birth.  Those that would promote abuse of children physically and emotionally over this issue are not expressing love to kids (even though it is promoted as such).  Laws impact the lives of those that are being illegally trafficked for sexual services.  It is loving to promote safety in our communities through the enforcement of laws and incarceration of those that would bring harm to our streets. In fact, this is why God gave authority to government. 

Romans 13:4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Our culture confuses Christians by causing us to think that evil is good, and standing up for good is racist, close-minded, or white privilege.  The fact is that the biblical world-view of Christians provides a fabric for a society to love people.  Good laws show love for people while curtailing activity that is destructive behavior.

1. We are called to be salt and light in the world.

Matthew 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The podcast offers a long list of involvement that Christians have had to influence a positive impact on people: the end of slavery, upholding the value of women, the end of temple prostitution and more.  The advantage of Christians is they have a view of the world that is from God himself that allows for people to live with boundaries, but with blessing for all.  Our moral fabric is guided by truth of God’s word and a confidence that how he loves people is a blessing to all people in society.  Our involvement in society is to be a blessing to all who live in that society.

One key caution.  The United States is NOT the kingdom of God.  We must always keep distinct the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world.  The kingdom of God is guided by the Gospel and the Word of God IS the ruling body of doctrine and guidance for life.  The role of the Church is first and foremost the proclamation of the Gospel.  The primary role of the Church is NOT to change the politics of a country.  

That being said, as Christians, we live in the kingdom of this world.  Jesus has left us in the world to influence the world for him.  Yes, primarily it is through the Gospel, but it also is through our involvement in our communities, state and country and aiding in passing laws and upholding laws that align to the moral fabric and biblical-worldview the Lord gives us.

So as a citizen of the United States, exercise the privilege and responsibility to vote today.  Engage in local council meetings, school boards and the like, not bringing ill-repute on the Christian faith, but speaking the truth in love.

Let your light shine as you vote and engage in politics!

Apply: Go vote!

Prayer: Lord, we trust that governing authorities are there because you allow them to be in that position.  We ask that those elected today would honor the authority you give them and seek to be guided by your wisdom as they engage in the office to which they are elected.  AMEN.