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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Thursday, August 18, 2022
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :The Good and Wicked Servants Bible Verse:Matthew 24:45-51 (ESV) "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”" Message:
This, and the paragraph just before (Matthew 24:43-44), are incomplete bits of two parables. Luke fleshes out the teaching much more fully, for they are part of an extended metaphor of a servant waiting for the master to return. (Luke 12:32-48)
modern photo of Jesus with two ethnic little girls
But the point is clear enough. The context is a discourse on His second coming, made in private to the eleven apostles. The parable fragment makes the most sense as an instruction about their conduct until He will come again. They have a special role to play. Not only must they be always ready for Christ to return, but also, they must care for the master’s household. In his absence, it is their responsibility to create a church and feed the members with the spiritual food of Christ’s words and mysteries.
He seems to presuppose, or at least account for the possibility, that there might be a long delay before his second coming. He has already told us that He does not know when He will return; nobody knows this except the Father. (Matthew 24:36) So he must prepare the apostles, and the world, to find salvation and heed His words in his absence. In short, He is preparing them, and us, for the age of the church.
Many early Christians were under the impression that Christ’s return was imminent. And, perhaps it was in terms of “God time.” For as Peter reminds us, “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” (2 Peter 3:8.)
If this interpretation is correct, Christ would have much to say to many church leaders, today. He would not be pleased with the misbehavior among clergy tolerated in some (if not most) churches, for He holds them to a different standard. “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1)
Those who would teach Bible study (or write commentary for web sites!) should be mindful:
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:5-7)
Meditation : “The prayer offered to God in the morning during your quiet time is the key that unlocks the door of the day. Any athlete knows that it is the start that ensures a good finish.” Prayer : Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, let me think about these things. What I have learned and received, let me do; and the God of peace be with us all......Amen |
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