i just thought i would share...
Submitted by Compassion on March 04 2000 at 15:49:46
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about a message i heard yesterday, and how the Lord showed me an answer to a thing that has been bothering me for years.... The passage i want to take you to is Matthew 25 and in particular verses 14 thru 30. Here we find a parable of a man travelling to another country, and leaving to his servants his wealth, each according to his own ability verse 15. Notice here that the master is not just fair, but he is just...not giving to one too much he could handle. But each according to their ability. Now what has been bothering me for years, is what is it that the one recieved and buried that he recieved eternal judgement for not using it wisely. Now i have heard many a things including, talents God has given ya, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of God. The later i bought, but what was it about the grace of God....Well last nite it came to me....and not by the preacher. Context is the key to understanding scripture, with scripture. I have always believed that. Now we look at the following passage verses 31-46, and find it is on the judgement seat of Christ. Jesus is seperating believers from non-believers. Notice they are judged for what they did, but did to who?....the least of these my brethern. Now that is a key, to understanding the grace of God. The prior passage to that is the ten virgins, five foolish, five wise. And what do we find here? I think it is obvious, five were wise and were filled with the Holy Spirit. And what is the purpose of the Holy Spirit, to show sin to us, open our eyes to scripture, and seal us. Now if we take those two things into consideration. What the middle servant recieved was a measure of God's grace....and he didnt see the value in it. Now this grace when implanted in a believer, first humbles him shows his worthless state before God, and secondly causes to see his brother in need, and help. So we see in this servant, a proud heart as he accuses the master of being unfair...and he has no regard for his masters goods. See the love of God will cause us to help those who are....the least of the brethern. Now who are the least? I believe it is the least in your own eyes....not Gods...for we are all equal in Gods. Sinners saved by grace. It is helping those who have hurt us, used us, stolen from us, and done any number of things to us. Peter asked Jesus how often shall i forgive my brother, 7 times.. And Jesus responded saying, not 7 times, but 70 x 7.. Now this is not to be taken literally, but figuratively. For 7 was the perfect number. So Jesus was saying always forgive. In Matthew 18 where we find this passage we find that the outcome of a servant who wouldnt forgive his fellow brother, was equal to the outcome found in this passage. Eternall torment. And compare that to what Jesus says about our enemies in Matthew 5:38-48. So where does that leave us....exactly here. If you do not and cannot forgive someone who has wronged you, to the point of no return...than you have to question your christianity. I know I was bitter against my father for years....but in the end God brought me to reconcillation. You need to consider what Jesus said on these issues. And look at an old posting of mine on Love of the Brethern . Love in Christ, Compassion.... |