Reflections from July 8, 2010

Today we read in Luke 8:18, "Therefore, take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."

Chuck Smith, in his commentary on Luke (click here for full text), said about this verse, "The importance of using what God has given to me for His glory. And if I do, God will add more. The Lord said, "Thou hast been faithful in a few things, now I will make you ruler over many things." That is always the process of God. Unless you are faithful in those little things that God has laid before you, He'll never lead you any further. There are a lot of people who want to jump into something big, major work for God. That's where they want to start. But they don't want to, they don't have time for teaching a Sunday school class. Or helping out in the nursery. "I want to do great things for God." And God always promotes through the ranks. Those who begin, and are diligent in those small things, God gives more. If you are not faithful in the little things, then who is going to entrust you the things of the kingdom?"
So if your desire is to do great things for God, it will happen, but God, being the best boss of the universe, will take you there slowly, just as your regular employer does.

Next we see in Luke 9:4-6 how Jesus having commissioned the Apostles to go out and preach, tells them "'Whatever house you enter, stay there and from there depart. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.' So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere."

Jesus had a manager's approach to spreading the gospel; either they get it or they don't. And He was pretty clear on what to do if they didn't: shake the dust of the town from your feet as a testimony against them. I don't want to imagine that about me. Getting to heaven and seeing Peter stomp his feet in front of me with my dust flying off his feet, simply because I did not receive God's word. I'd much rather my house be one where they enter and are received with full and loving embrace.

Blessings to all